Antibiotic resistance: a physicist's view

TL;DR

This paper discusses how physicists can contribute to understanding and addressing antibiotic resistance by exploring the fundamental science of antibiotic action and resistance emergence.

Contribution

It highlights current physicist contributions and proposes future directions for physics involvement in antimicrobial research.

Findings

Physicists are already contributing to antibiotic resistance research.

Understanding fundamental science can lead to new strategies against resistance.

Future physics-based approaches could improve antimicrobial effectiveness.

Abstract

The problem of antibiotic resistance poses challenges across many disciplines. One such challenge is to understand the fundamental science of how antibiotics work, and how resistance to them can emerge. This is an area where physicists can make important contributions. Here, we highlight cases where this is already happening, and suggest directions for further physics involvement in antimicrobial research.