Antimicrobial resistance is recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a major global health threat, and it is estimated that drug-resistant infections contribute to almost 5 million deaths a year [3]. The rapid spread of bacterial strains resistant to available antibacterial medicines is of particular concern, including the 'ESKAPE' pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) that are responsible for many nosocomial infections [7-8].
Antibacterial compounds act on essential bacterial molecular pathways, resulting in inhibition of growth or death of the microorganisms. These mechanisms of action include: altered DNA replication and structure, cell membrane integrity, and inhibition of cell wall peptidoglycan synthesis, nucleic acid precursor synthesis and protein synthesis.

* Key recommended reading is highlighted with an asterisk

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Ropponen HK, Richter R, Hirsch AKH, Lehr CM. (2021) Mastering the Gram-negative bacterial barrier - Chemical approaches to increase bacterial bioavailability of antibiotics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev, 172: 339-360. [PMID:33705882]

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9. Vanden Broeck A, Lotz C, Ortiz J, Lamour V. (2019) Cryo-EM structure of the complete E. coli DNA gyrase nucleoprotein complex. Nat Commun, 10 (1): 4935. [PMID:31666516]