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Discovery of Novel Polymyxin-Like Antibiotics

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Polymyxin Antibiotics: From Laboratory Bench to Bedside

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 1145))

Abstract

The antimicrobial lipopeptides polymyxin B and colistin (polymyxin E) are used as a ‘last-line’ therapy for infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative pathogens. However, their effective use as antibiotic drugs in the clinical setting is still plagued by significant toxicity issues, in particular their potential for nephrotoxicity. Furthermore, resistance to the polymyxins has begun to emerge in the clinic, which implies a total lack of antibiotics for the treatment of life-threatening infections caused by the Gram-negative ‘superbugs’. This chapter details our current understanding of polymyxin structure-activity relationships as well as recent pre-clinical and clinical drug development efforts aimed at generating new polymyxin antibiotics with improved safety and efficacy.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

    Tony Velkov

  2. Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia

    Kade D. Roberts

Authors
  1. Tony Velkov
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  2. Kade D. Roberts
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Tony Velkov or Kade D. Roberts .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Infection & Immunity Program and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Jian Li

  2. Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Roger L. Nation

  3. Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Keith S. Kaye

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Velkov, T., Roberts, K.D. (2019). Discovery of Novel Polymyxin-Like Antibiotics. In: Li, J., Nation, R., Kaye, K. (eds) Polymyxin Antibiotics: From Laboratory Bench to Bedside. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 1145. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16373-0_20

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