Identification of novel drug targets using model organisms

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is an endemic problem within hospitals worldwide, and is becoming an increasing problem within the general community. Traditionally, physicians and the public have relied on the belief that as bacteria acquired resistance to one antibiotic, new drugs would be made available that could be used to combat those infections. The appearance of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) infections in the 1990s, combined with the withdrawal of funding for antimicrobial drug discovery and development by big Pharma, has led to the realisation that we can no longer assume that all infections can be treated with a ‘magic bullet’. Recent years have seen the emergence of infections that are resistant to all clinically available antibiotics, including newly released drugs such as tigecycline. The cupboard is bare. Or at least it is heading that way.