Glycopeptide antibiotics and development of inhibitors to overcome vancomycin resistance

This review outlines the history of vancomycin and other key glycopeptide antibiotics and the molecular basis of vancomycin resistance, and focuses on the development of synthetic inhibitors of vancomycin-resistant enzymes VanR, S, A, H and X to overcome resistance. The literature up to July 2001 is reviewed and 119 references are cited.