Call for next-generation drugs that remove the uptake barrier to combat antibiotic resistance

Existing antibacterial agents can be categorized into two generations, but bacterial insensitivity towards both of these classes poses a serious public health challenge worldwide. Thus, novel approaches and/or novel antibacterials are urgently needed to maintain a concentration of antibacterials that is lethal to bacteria that are resistant to existing antibiotic treatments. Metabolite(s)-based adjuvants that promote antibiotic uptake and enhance antibiotic efficacy are an effective strategy that is unlikely to develop resistance. Thus, we propose a metabolite(s)-based approach, in which metabolites and antibacterials are combined, as a promising strategy for the development of next-generation agents to combat a variety of antibiotic-resistant pathogens.