Metals to combat antimicrobial resistance

Bacteria, similar to most organisms, have a love–hate relationship with metals: a specific metal may be essential for survival yet toxic in certain forms and concentrations. Metal ions have a long history of antimicrobial activity and have received increasing attention in recent years owing to the rise of antimicrobial resistance. The search for antibacterial agents now encompasses metal ions, nanoparticles and metal complexes with antimicrobial activity (‘metalloantibiotics’). Although yet to be advanced to the clinic, metalloantibiotics are a vast and underexplored group of compounds that could lead to a much-needed new class of antibiotics. This Review summarizes recent developments in this growing field,…

• WT
  Wellcome Trust

  Awards: 104797/Z/14/Z, 104797
• CA
  Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator
• SN
  Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung

  Award: P2ZHP2_177997
• UO
  University of Queensland
• MR
  Medical Research Council
• NH
  National Health and Medical Research Council

  Award: 2004367