Abstract

Generally infectious diseases are caused by organic agents such as viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi protozoans and other microbes, which can spread directly through contact with an infected person or animal. The means of spread is through consumption of contaminated food or water, contacting contaminated surroundings such as infected animal droppings or inhaling contaminated air, through biting of insects like mosquitoes or ticks [vectors] carrying the agents. Studies have proven, that demographic and environmental factors such as population growth, increased urbanization and evolution of disease-carrying insects and animals have contributed greatly to the spread of these deadly diseases. In this scenario, major challenge for the medical and scientific world is to find solutions via discovering new synthetic or natural agents which can treat these infectious diseases. Many strategies and techniques are being employed to discover these cryptic agents from decades and as the new diseases emerge, the idea of discovering more and more of these agents is renewed t suit the new challenge.

Keywords: ESKAPE pathogens; Mechanism of drug resistance; Antibiotics; Plant secondary metabolites