Title:Bacterial Resistance: Antibiotics of Last Generation used in Clinical Practice and the Arise of Natural Products as New Therapeutic Alternatives
Volume: 26
Issue: 8
Author(s): Rúbia C.G. Corrêa, Sandrina A. Heleno*, Maria J. Alves and Isabel C.F.R. Ferreira*
Affiliation:
- Centro de Investigacao de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politecnico de Braganca, Campus de Santa Apolonia, Braganca,Portugal
- Centro de Investigacao de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politecnico de Braganca, Campus de Santa Apolonia, Braganca,Portugal
Keywords:
Antibiotics of last generation, microbial resistance, natural antimicrobial agents, mechanisms of action, multiresistant
microorganisms, antimicrobial therapeutics.
Abstract: Bacterial resistance to therapeutical drugs has been a serious issue over the last decades. In fact, the
quick development of resistance mechanisms by the microorganisms has been fatal for millions of people around
the world, turning into a public health issue. The major cause of the resistance mechanisms is the overuse of
antimicrobials. European countries try to implement mechanisms to overcome antimicrobial resistance in the
community through the rational use of antimicrobials. The scientific community has been exhaustively dedicated
to the discovering of new, safer and efficient drugs, being the exploitation of natural resources, mainly plants and
fungi, considered as a hot topic in the field of antimicrobial agents. Innumerous reports have already shown the
promising capacity of natural products or molecules extracted from these natural resources, to act as bacteriostatic
and bactericidal agents. More importantly, these natural agents present significantly lower harmful effects. Bearing
that in mind, this review aims at giving a contribution to the knowledge about the synthetic antibiotics of the
last generation. Moreover, it is intended to provide information about the last advances regarding the discovery of
new antimicrobial agents. Thus, a compilation of the chemical characteristics, efficiency, harmful outcomes and
resistance mechanisms developed by the microorganisms can be consulted in the following sections together with
a critical discussion, in line with the recent approaches. Furthermore, modern strategies for the prospection of
novel anti-infective compounds for tackling resistant bacteria have been considered as also a current synopsis of
plants and mushrooms with relevant antimicrobial potentials.
