Described herein is an antibiotic compound of formula (I): or a salt or stereoisomer thereof wherein R1-R3, R5 and R6 are independently selected from H, alkyl group, substituted alkyl group, halogen, OH, NH2, or SH R4 is H, alkyl group or substituted alkyl group X1-X2 are independently selected from O, S, NH, H, alkyl, halogen, OH, SH, or NH2 Y is an acyclic hydrocarbon chain having 4 to 20 carbon atoms or a substituted acyclic hydrocarbon chain having 4 to 20 carbon atoms with the proviso that Y does not include an oxygen atom Z is CH3 or any neutral or positively charged group. Therapeutic uses and systems of drug development of these antibiotic compounds are also described.
