Development of L-Lysine-based small molecules as broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents

Abstract

Infectious diseases continue to wreak havoc in hospitals and health care settings. The World Health Organization has published a Global Report on Surveillance which summarizes the dire situation created by increasing antimicrobial resistance to drugs. The situation is worst in case of bacteria but resistance is rampant in other pathogenic microorganisms such as parasites, fungi and viruses.1 According to the report of the O’Neill commission, AMR already causes around 700,000 deaths annually which is estimated to increase to 10 million deaths annually by 2050. Moreover, it is expected to cost global healthcare around $100 trillion by 2050. This has also prompted the governments of USA and UK to set up strategic plans to combat antimicrobial resistance.