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Updated: Sep 23, 2025
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Antibiotic Dereplication Using the Antibiotic Resistance Platform
Published on: October 17, 2019
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Drug repurposing to overcome microbial resistance.
1Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia; Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Slechtitelu 27, 783 71 Olomouc, Czech Republic.
Drug Discovery Today
|May 13, 2022
Summary
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global threat. This review explores drug repurposing as a strategy to combat resistant infections, examining its potential and limitations for developing new antibacterial drugs.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health challenge.
- The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens ('superbugs') outpaces the development of new anti-infective drugs.
- Existing treatments face limitations due to resistance and a lack of novel therapeutic agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the causes of antimicrobial resistance.
- To discuss various approaches for discovering and developing new anti-infective drugs.
- To critically evaluate drug repurposing as a strategy for combating antimicrobial resistance.
Main Methods:
- Literature review summarizing causes of antimicrobial resistance.
- Analysis of different strategies for anti-infective drug discovery and development.
- Comprehensive overview of drugs from other indications tested for antimicrobial activity.
- Critical assessment of repurposing non-antibiotics as antibacterial agents.
Main Results:
- Antimicrobial resistance is driven by various factors, necessitating urgent solutions.
- Drug repurposing shows promise by identifying existing drugs with potential antimicrobial activity.
- Several non-antibiotic drugs have demonstrated in vitro activity, offering avenues for new therapeutic combinations.
- Challenges and limitations exist in repurposing drugs for antibacterial applications.
Conclusions:
- Drug repurposing is a viable strategy to address the antimicrobial resistance crisis.
- Further research is needed to optimize and validate repurposed drugs for clinical use.
- A multifaceted approach, including drug repurposing, is essential to combat the growing threat of infections.
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