Resistance-proof antimicrobial drug discovery to combat global antimicrobial resistance threat

• Published in: Drug resistance updates Vol. 66; p. 100890
• Main Authors: Upadhayay, Aditya, Ling, Jingjing, Pal, Dharm, Xie, Yuhao, Ping, Feng-Feng, Kumar, Awanish
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Scotland Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2023
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Bacterial Agents - therapeutic use; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Anti-Infective Agents - therapeutic use; Conventional antimicrobials; Drug Discovery - methods; Drug Resistance; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Future therapeutics; Humans; Imminent properties; Resistance proof drug; Future therapeutics; Conventional antimicrobials; Resistance proof drug; Imminent properties; Drug resistance
• ISSN: 1368-7646; 1532-2084
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2022.100890

Drug resistance is well-defined as a serious problem in our living world. To survive, microbes develop defense strategies against antimicrobial drugs. Drugs exhibit less or no effective results against microbes after the emergence of resistance because they are unable to cross the microbial membrane, in order to alter enzymatic systems, and/or upregulate efflux pumps, etc. Drug resistance issues can be addressed effectively if a “Resistance-Proof” or “Resistance-Resistant” antimicrobial agent is developed. This article discusses first the need for resistance-proof drugs, the imminent properties of resistance-proof drugs, current and future research progress in the discovery of resistance-proof antimicrobials, the inherent challenges, and opportunities. A molecule having imminent resistance-proof properties could target microbes efficiently, increase potency, and rule out the possibility of early resistance. This review triggers the scientific community to think about how an upsurge in drug resistance can be averted and emphasizes the discussion on the development of next-generation antimicrobials that will provide a novel effective solution to combat the global problem of drug resistance. Hence, resistance-proof drug development is not just a requirement but rather a compulsion in the drug discovery field so that resistance can be battled effectively. We discuss several properties of resistance-proof drugs which could initiate new ways of thinking about next-generation antimicrobials to resolve the drug resistance problem. This article sheds light on the issues of drug resistance and discusses solutions in terms of the resistance-proof properties of a molecule. In summary, the article is a foundation to break new ground in the development of resistance-proof therapeutics in the field of infection biology. •Microbes survive under antibiotic stress due to a microbe-supportive survival system.•Conventional drugs cannot cross the microbe-supportive survival system.•Due to some significant features of resistance-proof drugs, they may cross the microbial support system.•Article sheds light on drug resistance problems and solutions in terms of the resistance-proof properties of a molecule.•Resistance-proof drugs may work as next generation drugs that can combat antibiotic resistance effectively.