It may come as a surprise then that we already use molecular tools to fight bacteria. That's what antibiotics are - fairly small, relatively simple molecules.

It may come as a surprise then that we already use molecular tools to fight bacteria. That's what antibiotics are - fairly small, relatively simple molecules. The problem with bacteria is they are a moving target - it's not as if they aren't constantly under attack from all sides already. Bacteriophage ( viruses that target bacteria ) are ubiquitous, there is bacteria on bacteria action ( in fact most current antibiotics are molecules one bacteria or fungi developed to kill another ), and organisms like us - are constantly trying to kill bacteria through multiple mechanisms.