Actinomycetes as nature’s pharmacists

The increasing incidence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens has resulted in an urgent need for new, clinically useful antibiotics. By 2050, antibiotic-resistant micro-organisms are expected to cause more deaths than cancer, road traffic accidents and other chronic diseases worldwide.

This is partly because effective antibiotics are essential to prevent infection when carrying out life-saving medical procedures such as surgery and chronic illness management. While reduction of antimicrobial use in farming and increased antibiotic stewardship are both essential, new viable alternative drugs that can be used in the clinic are still required.