Analysis of the effectiveness of different biosynthetic techniques on altering natural products to create novel antibiotics

Antibiotics are ubiquitous in modern medicine due to how useful they are in combating sickness and disease. They vary greatly in structure and function, permitting their use in the treatment of a wide variety of bacterial infections. However, due to the development of resistance in bacteria, antibiotics must constantly be updated to remain effective. There are many strategies which have been applied to alter natural products and subsequently create novel antibiotics, including precursor-directed biosynthesis, genetic engineering, and combinatorial biosynthesis. Different techniques have been proven effective on different natural products due to the diverse structures of these natural products, each ranging in effectiveness. This review compiles several studies where naturally occurring β-lactams and glycopeptides have been modified through the previously mentioned techniques in order to create new antibiotics. The studies impart insight on the effectiveness of each of these techniques and their potential utilization in the future of the medical field.