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Antibacterial Inhibitors of the Essential Cell Division Protein FtsZ

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Antibiotic Discovery and Development

Abstract

Antibacterials with new mechanisms of action are needed to treat the increasing number of life-threatening bacterial infections that are resistant to current therapies. Despite this urgent need, only three new classes of antibacterial compounds – oxazolidinones, cyclic lipopeptides, and pleuromutilins – have been approved for human clinical use since 1962 [19, 20]. In particular, the emergence and spread of drug-resistant Staphylococci, such as methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and VRSA) is of serious concern. Here we describe the motivation, discovery process, and characterization of a novel class of small synthetic antibacterials that have potent activity against Staphylococci, including drug-resistant clinical isolates.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Prolysis Ltd., Begbroke Science Park, Sandy Lane, Yarnton, Oxfordshire, OX5 1PF, UK

    Lloyd G. Czaplewski, Neil R. Stokes, Steve Ruston & David J. Haydon

Authors
  1. Lloyd G. Czaplewski
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  2. Neil R. Stokes
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  3. Steve Ruston
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  4. David J. Haydon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lloyd G. Czaplewski .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Senior Principal Scientist, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Gatehouse Dr. 35, Waltham, 02451, Massachusetts, USA

    Thomas J. Dougherty

  2. Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc., George St. 300, New Haven, 06511, Connecticut, USA

    Michael J. Pucci

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Czaplewski, L.G., Stokes, N.R., Ruston, S., Haydon, D.J. (2012). Antibacterial Inhibitors of the Essential Cell Division Protein FtsZ. In: Dougherty, T., Pucci, M. (eds) Antibiotic Discovery and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-1400-1_30

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