Due to the increasing development of antibiotic resistances by bacterial pathogens, there is a tremendous need for the development of new antibiotic lead structures. Major causes of concern are hereby Gram-negative bacteria as infections with those bacteria are very difficult to treat. Thus there is a high need to identify and develop new antibiotics that are highly effective and can overcome current resistances.

Albicidin has the potential to be such a compound as it displays remarkable antibacterial activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms. Initially described as an antibiotic substance derived by the plant pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas albilineans in 1985 its molecular structure of was determined only recently. Unfortunately, the only low amounts of albicidin obtainable are currently the limiting factors in providing sufficient material for therapeutic usage.

Scientists at TU Berlin now developed a convergent total synthesis route toward albicidin enabling the production in multi gram amounts of albicidin that can be used for further profiling of its drug properties. Within this synthesis route various building blocks where identified that can be synthesises separately. Modifications within these building blocks enable the production of several derivatives with different properties

Those variations in the building blocks of albicidin can provide compounds with relevant antibiotic properties, in particular an antibiotic activity against resistant pathogens.