Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Quadruple-Checkerboard: A Modification of the Three-Dimensional Checkerboard for Studying Drug Combinations
Published on: July 24, 2021
Combating antimicrobial resistance: the silent war
Letao Bo1, Haidong Sun2, Yi-Dong Li1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, United States.
Abstract:
Once hailed as miraculous solutions, antibiotics no longer hold that status. The excessive use of antibiotics across human healthcare, agriculture, and animal husbandry has given rise to a broad array of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens, posing formidable treatment challenges. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has evolved into a pressing global health crisis, linked to elevated mortality rates in the modern medical era. Additionally, the absence of effective antibiotics introduces substantial risks to medical and surgical procedures. The dwindling interest of pharmaceutical industries in developing new antibiotics against MDR pathogens has aggravated the scarcity issue, resulting in an exceedingly limited pipeline of new antibiotics. Given these circumstances, the imperative to devise novel strategies to combat perilous MDR pathogens has become paramount. Contemporary research has unveiled several promising avenues for addressing this challenge. The article provides a comprehensive overview of these innovative therapeutic approaches, highlighting their mechanisms of action, benefits, and drawbacks.
Insights
Antibiotic resistance is a major global health crisis, leading to untreatable infections and limited medical options. New strategies are urgently needed to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antibiotics are losing efficacy due to excessive use, leading to multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens.
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global health issue, increasing mortality and complicating medical procedures.
- The pharmaceutical industry's declining interest in new antibiotic development exacerbates the scarcity of effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of innovative therapeutic strategies against MDR pathogens.
- To highlight novel approaches for combating the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance.
- To analyze the mechanisms, benefits, and drawbacks of emerging antibiotic alternatives.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of contemporary research on novel antimicrobial strategies.
- Analysis of emerging therapeutic avenues targeting multidrug-resistant pathogens.
- Synthesis of information on the action, advantages, and disadvantages of new treatments.
Main Results:
- Several promising innovative therapeutic approaches have been identified to combat MDR pathogens.
- These novel strategies offer potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics.
- The article details the specific mechanisms, benefits, and limitations of each approach.
Conclusions:
- The development of novel strategies is paramount to address the escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance.
- Innovative therapeutic approaches show promise in overcoming treatment challenges posed by MDR pathogens.
- Further research and development are crucial to expand the pipeline of effective antimicrobial agents.
More Related Videos
08:58Isolation and Identification of Waterborne Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Molecular Characterization of their Antibiotic Resistance Genes
Published on: March 3, 2023
12:03Antimicrobial Synergy Testing by the Inkjet Printer-assisted Automated Checkerboard Array and the Manual Time-kill Method
Published on: April 18, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Antibiotic Selection
Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism
Such synergistic combinations...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Surface Membrane Barriers
The outer layer of the skin, the epidermis, is a robust barrier comprising layers of closely packed keratinized cells. This dense arrangement prevents microbes from penetrating the body. The periodic shedding of epidermal cells...
Hand hygiene
Hand washing...