Teixobactin: A Powerful Tool for Combating Resistant Strains

Abstract

Resistance to antibiotics has grown out to be a serious health concern. Despite this serious health crisis, no new antibiotics have been discovered since the last 30 years. A new ray of hope in the form of teixobactin has come out of the dark, which could demonstrate the potential to be effective in countering resistance. This new antibiotic has an interesting mechanism of action against bacteria. The discovery of this wonderful compound has evolved as a major breakthrough especially in this era of antibiotic catastrophe. This review article highlights various facets of teixobactin that include chemistry, mode of action, in vitro and in vivo activities. Though the compound has not yet undergone clinical studies, its effect on mice models has given hope for overpowering resistance. This review attempts to provide information about teixobactin and its potential for fighting as antibiotic resistance.

Discovery, synthesis, and optimization of teixobactin, a novel antibiotic without detectable bacterial resistance

“…Teixobactin exhibits potent antibacterial activity against all the tested gram-positive pathogens and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, including drug-resistant strains. 22,29 Compared with the wellestablished lipid II inhibitor vancomycin, teixobactin binds to both bacterial lipid II and lipid III that are precursor molecules in the synthesis of bacterial cell wall, which demonstrates the superiority of teixobactin in bacterial resistance. Strikingly, the in vivo antibactericidal activity of teixobactin is 10-fold superior than the last-line clinical drug vancomycin in mouse models.…”