This text is part of the "Biochemical & Medicinal Chemistry Series", Series Editor: John Mann, Professor of Organic Chemistry, University of Reading. The aim of this series of short textbooks is to present full accounts of topics which are at the interface of chemistry and biology, from medicinal chemistry to molecular biology. The topics chosen for inclusion are popular subjects for upper-level undergraduate and postgraduate modular courses, and yet they receive inadequate coverage in traditional textbooks of organic chemistry and of biochemistry. Each text in the series provides a concise and up to date introduction to its subject in an attractive format. Antibiotics are among the most prescribed drugs in the world today, and since their development and commercialization in the early part of this century, they have saved countless millions of lives. Combating bacterial infection has resulted in the development of compounds which include the penicillin, cephalosporins, aminoglycosides and tetracyclins. This concise and up to date textbook uses a wide range of examples to describes the structure, mechanisms of action, synthesis and biosynthetic pathways of the major classes of antibiotics. A serious problem today is the development of microorganisms that are resistant to these "traditional" antibiotics. This important area is described, with an account of bacterial resistance mechanisms, and the latest advances aimed at overcoming these problems. This textbook is suitable for upper-level undergraduate courses given to chemists, biochemists, microbiologists, pharmacologists and medical students. Postgraduates and entrants to the pharmaceutical industry will find it an invaluable introduction to the subject.