Hall of Fame

Pathogenic bacteria resistant to current first-line antibiotic treatments in the United States are responsible for two million infections a year, placing a strain upon the United States healthcare system and increasing expenditure by an estimated $20 billion per year in associated medical costs. Of particular concern is the pathogenic bacterium methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which exhibits resistance towards almost all clinical β-lactams (e.g. penicillins, cephalosporins, and carbapenems). MRSA commonly acquires additional resistance determinants, giving rise to multidrug-resistant MRSA subtypes (MDRSA) which can be especially challenging to treat. The bacterial cellular division protein Filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z (FtsZ) represents a novel...