title: What is an "ideal" antibiotic? Discovery challenges and path forward.
abstract: An ideal antibiotic is an antibacterial agent that kills or inhibits the growth of all harmful bacteria in a host, regardless of site of infection without affecting beneficial gut microbes (gut flora) or causing undue toxicity to the host. Sadly, no such antibiotics exist. What exist are many effective Gram-positive antibacterial agents as well as broad-spectrum agents that provide treatment of certain Gram-negative bacteria but not holistic treatment of all bacteria. However effectiveness of all antibacterial agents is being rapidly eroded due to resistance. This viewpoint provides an overview of today's antibiotics, challenges and potential path forward of discovery and development of new (ideal) antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: SBS Pharma Consulting, Edison, NJ 08820, USA. Electronic address: sbs@sbspharma.com.
authors.forename: Sheo B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: MRL, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Young
authors.affiliation: LL Silver Consulting, Springfield, NJ 07081, USA.
authors.forename: Lynn L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Silver
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Antibacterials; Antibiotics; Discovery challenges; ESKAPE; Path-forward of discovery