Final answer:
Semisynthetic drugs designed to combat microbial resistance are called second generation drugs. The modified antimicrobial drug in the question is a semisynthetic drug. Efforts to combat resistance include creating drug analogs, developing new antimicrobials, and using advanced technology like the iChip.
Step-by-step explanation:
Semisynthetic drugs developed to combat resistance are often called second generation drugs. In the case described, where a scientist modifies an antimicrobial compound from a soil bacterium to broaden its spectrum, the new drug would be considered a semisynthetic drug. Semisynthetic drugs are derived from natural substances through chemical modifications to enhance efficacy or spectrum of activity against microbial pathogens. The ability to kill both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria indicates an increased antimicrobial spectrum, which is a common goal in the development of semisynthetic drugs.
Strategies to overcome microbial resistance involve the development of analogs of existing drugs, the repurposing of drugs for new therapeutic uses, and the discovery of compounds with novel targets. Sulfonamides, for example, are synthetic antibiotics that were some of the first synthetic antibacterial agents developed. Today, new approaches are necessary to prevent a postantibiotic era, including the development of new antimicrobial compounds and technologies like the iChip that facilitate the discovery of novel antimicrobials from soil microbes. These efforts are crucial as resistance to existing semisynthetic derivatives can develop quickly.