Sugars designed to disrupt bacterial cell wall biosynthesis
Rare monosaccharides explore concept for new narrow-spectrum antibiotics
Scientists have synthesised a range of monosaccharides that can masquerade as those used by some bacteria to construct their cell walls. The monosaccharides interfere with glycan biosynthesis in a species-selective manner so could help establish a new strategy for designing molecules that attack pathogenic bacteria but not bacteria that support digestion.