# N-Organothio β-Lactams Offer New Opportunities for Controlling Pathogenic Bacteria

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new class of molecules that could help combat drug-resistant bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus.

## Contribution

The paper presents N-organothio β-lactams as a novel family of synthetic antibacterial agents with unique properties.

## Key findings

- N-organothio β-lactams show effectiveness against multi-drug resistant bacterial strains.
- These molecules offer a new mode of action against pathogenic bacteria.
- They provide fresh opportunities for developing new treatment protocols.

## Abstract

Pathogenic bacteria such as the drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus dominate our medical and environmental landscape, causing hundreds of thousands of deaths from infections and life-threatening complications following surgeries. The availability of antibiotics and treatment protocols to control these microbes are becoming increasingly more limited as antibiotic resistance becomes more prevalent. In this article, a new family of small molecules referred to as N-organothio β-lactams is presented that have unique features and a mode of action against these pathogenic microbes, including multi-drug resistant strains, that may offer new options to address these concerns. This review gives an overview of the initial discovery, exploration and ongoing development of these synthetic antibacterial agents, with a focus on their unique properties and capabilities that provide fresh opportunities for combating pathogenic bacteria.