The use of antibiotics in the treatment by antibacterial and antifungal chemo therapy, has become standard practice since the end of World War Two and has had an enormous impact on healthcare throughout the world. Compounds belonging to this class have also reached an important place in the medical treatment of human cancer. Although, the discovery of most of these agents came from more or less sophisticated screening programs of soil microrganisms, many of the important antibiotics used today in clinical practice are derived from the original biosynthetic products by the application of often novel and generally elaborated chemical synthetic methodologies. In fact the antibiotics have represented (and still represent) for a generation of organic chemists an endless source of molecular structures whose varied assemblage of carbon atom backbones and chemical functions was beyond any possibility of imagination. Perhaps a similar repertoire of chemotypes was formerly offered by the natural products, namely the alkaloids, the terpenes, the vitamins and hormones as well as the pigments of the animal and plant kingdoms, albeit the chemical arrange ments of the antibiotic molecules appeared much more surprising and diverse to the admiring eyes of cultivated organic chemists. The idea of this book, certainly a landmark in the field, came during the Symposium of EUCHEM on Chemical Synthesis of Antibiotics, that was held at Aussois in Savoy, France (May 2-6, 1988), the initiative being taken by Gabor Lukacs to whom Masaji Ohno readily associated as a co-editor.

Humans coexist with millions of harmless microorganisms, but emerging diseases, resistance to antibiotics, and the threat of bioterrorism are forcing scientists to look for new ways to confront the microbes that do pose a danger. This report identifies innovative approaches to the development of antimicrobial drugs and vaccines based on a greater understanding of how the human immune system interacts with both good and bad microbes. The report concludes that the development of a single superdrug to fight all infectious agents is unrealistic.

Chemistry and chemical engineering have changed significantly in the last decade. They have broadened their scopeâ€"into biology, nanotechnology, materials science, computation, and advanced methods of process systems engineering and controlâ€"so much that the programs in most chemistry and chemical engineering departments now barely resemble the classical notion of chemistry. Beyond the Molecular Frontier brings together research, discovery, and invention across the entire spectrum of the chemical sciencesâ€"from fundamental, molecular-level chemistry to large-scale chemical processing technology. This reflects the way the field has evolved, the synergy at universities between research and education in chemistry and chemical engineering, and the way chemists and chemical engineers work together in industry. The astonishing developments in science and engineering during the 20th century have made it possible to dream of new goals that might previously have been considered unthinkable. This book identifies the key opportunities and challenges for the chemical sciences, from basic research to societal needs and from terrorism defense to environmental protection, and it looks at the ways in which chemists and chemical engineers can work together to contribute to an improved future.

This volume covers all aspects of the antibiotic discovery and development process through Phase II/III. The contributors, a group of highly experienced individuals in both academics and industry, include chapters on the need for new antibiotic compounds, strategies for screening for new antibiotics, sources of novel synthetic and natural antibiotics, discovery phases of lead development and optimization, and candidate compound nominations into development. Beyond discovery , the handbook will cover all of the studies to prepare for IND submission: Phase I (safety and dose ranging), progression to Phase II (efficacy), and Phase III (capturing desired initial indications). This book walks the reader through all aspects of the process, which has never been done before in a single reference. With the rise of antibiotic resistance and the increasing view that a crisis may be looming in infectious diseases, there are strong signs of renewed emphasis in antibiotic research. The purpose of the handbook is to offer a detailed overview of all aspects of the problem posed by antibiotic discovery and development.

Molecules and Medicine provides, for the first time ever, a completely integrated look at chemistry, biology, drug discovery, and medicine. It delves into the discovery, application, and mode of action of more than one hundred of the most significant molecules in use in modern medicine. Opening sections of the book provide a unique, clear, and concise introduction, which enables readers to understand chemical formulas.

Advances that open new avenues in developing aminoglycoside antibiotics During the last twenty years, there have been numerous advances in the understanding of the chemistry, biochemistry, and recognition of aminoglycosides. This has led to the development of novel antibiotics and opened up new therapeutic targets for intervention. This is the first book to provide a complete overview of recent advances in the field and explore their tremendous potential for drug discovery and rational drug design. With chapters written by one or more leading experts in their specialty areas, the book addresses the chemistry, biology, and toxicology of aminoglycosides. Aminoglycoside Antibiotics: From Chemical Biology to Drug Discovery is a great resource for academic and industrial researchers in drug design and mechanism studies and for researchers studying antibiotic resistance, antibiotic design and synthesis, and the discovery of novel pharmaceuticals. It is also a valuable reference for graduate students in pharmacy, pharmaceutical science, biophysics, medicinal chemistry, and chemical biology.