The emergence of antibiotic resistance poses a significant health threat and hampers the effectiveness of many antibiotics used today. With many diseases being on the verge of becoming untreatable and negligible design of new antibiotics by pharma companies there is an imminent need for basic research for discovery of novel antibiotics.
Most clinically useful antibiotics are natural compounds produced by microorganisms as defence against pathogens. To improve their potency, pharma companies chemically modify natural antibiotics or generate semi-synthetic analogues. However, pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, respond to the pressure imposed by natural and improved antibiotics, by developing resistance, significantly hampering their effectiveness.
Further details: A fresh look at antibiotic design