The discovery of “Penicillin” by Alexander Fleming in 1928, created a new direction in infectious disease therapy. Although a substantial development in drug discoveries has prevented several infectious illnesses, some pathogenic microbes have also evolved against these drugs which have led to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared AMR as one of the top 10 global public health issues. AMR is a major global threat, and it is estimated that by 2050 the total healthcare cost may increase up to US$100 trillion and cause up to 10 million deaths each year. Over the past two decades, no promising antibiotic and antifungal drugs have yet to be introduced, whilst existing drugs continue to lose their sensitivity against antimicrobial resistant pathogens. Without effective antimicrobial drugs, we can provide lifesaving treatment especially during conditions like sepsis, surgery, chronic conditions, organ transplants, kidney dialysis and cancer treatment.
The aim of this Research Topic is therefore to present and discuss in detail various novel therapeutic strategies that are available to combat AMR pathogens including bacteria and fungi. Current available drugs are either insufficient or show limited efficacy against AMR pathogens, so there is a desperate need for new drugs with improved efficacy or novel treatment therapies to combat AMR pathogens. This collection will cover any bacterial and fungal AMR pathogens including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter, Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, ESBL-producing Enterobacterales, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and fungal pathogens like drug-resistant Candida, Azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus etc.
AMR is already a multi-dimensional complex challenge, in adding to it, the influence of the current COVID-19 pandemic makes the situation even worse. Most of the public health personnel are deflected to pandemic response and the exact status of AMR is not recorded. Recent reports describe sporadic antibiotic-resistant outbreaks in COVID-19 units and higher rates of hospital-onset infections. Considering these obstacles, we welcome articles with various approaches against AMR pathogens.
We welcome Original Research, Brief Research Report, Perspectives, Opinion, Review and Mini Review articles, focusing on the discovery or development of new drugs against AMR pathogens. We also encourage research articles with interdisciplinary strategies involving infection biology, chemical biology, and computational biology. Of particular interest are submissions on but not limited to the following topics:
1) Screening of natural and synthetic compound libraries: high-throughput screening of available libraries and validating the effectiveness of identified compound(s).
2) Use of new, repurposed, or licensed drugs to tackle AMR pathogens
3) Exploring small bioactive molecules or antimicrobial peptides from various sources
4) Use of nano molecules in AMR treatment and the application of nanotechnology in drug delivery
5) Use of antibiotics and antibodies as a combination therapy against Multi drug resistant pathogens
6) Antibiofilm drugs: Potential drugs inhibiting mono or dual species biofilms of AMR pathogens
7) Discovery and validation of Efflux pump inhibitors against bacterial and or fungal pathogens
We would like to acknowledge Dr. Parveez Ahamed Abdul Azees (University of Texas Health Science Center, US) and Dr. Thiruselvam Viswanathan (University of Texas Health Science Center, US) who have acted as coordinators, and have contributed to the preparation of this Research Topic
The discovery of “Penicillin” by Alexander Fleming in 1928, created a new direction in infectious disease therapy. Although a substantial development in drug discoveries has prevented several infectious illnesses, some pathogenic microbes have also evolved against these drugs which have led to the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared AMR as one of the top 10 global public health issues. AMR is a major global threat, and it is estimated that by 2050 the total healthcare cost may increase up to US$100 trillion and cause up to 10 million deaths each year. Over the past two decades, no promising antibiotic and antifungal drugs have yet to be introduced, whilst existing drugs continue to lose their sensitivity against antimicrobial resistant pathogens. Without effective antimicrobial drugs, we can provide lifesaving treatment especially during conditions like sepsis, surgery, chronic conditions, organ transplants, kidney dialysis and cancer treatment.
The aim of this Research Topic is therefore to present and discuss in detail various novel therapeutic strategies that are available to combat AMR pathogens including bacteria and fungi. Current available drugs are either insufficient or show limited efficacy against AMR pathogens, so there is a desperate need for new drugs with improved efficacy or novel treatment therapies to combat AMR pathogens. This collection will cover any bacterial and fungal AMR pathogens including Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter, Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales, ESBL-producing Enterobacterales, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Streptococcus pneumoniae and fungal pathogens like drug-resistant Candida, Azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus etc.
AMR is already a multi-dimensional complex challenge, in adding to it, the influence of the current COVID-19 pandemic makes the situation even worse. Most of the public health personnel are deflected to pandemic response and the exact status of AMR is not recorded. Recent reports describe sporadic antibiotic-resistant outbreaks in COVID-19 units and higher rates of hospital-onset infections. Considering these obstacles, we welcome articles with various approaches against AMR pathogens.
We welcome Original Research, Brief Research Report, Perspectives, Opinion, Review and Mini Review articles, focusing on the discovery or development of new drugs against AMR pathogens. We also encourage research articles with interdisciplinary strategies involving infection biology, chemical biology, and computational biology. Of particular interest are submissions on but not limited to the following topics:
1) Screening of natural and synthetic compound libraries: high-throughput screening of available libraries and validating the effectiveness of identified compound(s).
2) Use of new, repurposed, or licensed drugs to tackle AMR pathogens
3) Exploring small bioactive molecules or antimicrobial peptides from various sources
4) Use of nano molecules in AMR treatment and the application of nanotechnology in drug delivery
5) Use of antibiotics and antibodies as a combination therapy against Multi drug resistant pathogens
6) Antibiofilm drugs: Potential drugs inhibiting mono or dual species biofilms of AMR pathogens
7) Discovery and validation of Efflux pump inhibitors against bacterial and or fungal pathogens
We would like to acknowledge Dr. Parveez Ahamed Abdul Azees (University of Texas Health Science Center, US) and Dr. Thiruselvam Viswanathan (University of Texas Health Science Center, US) who have acted as coordinators, and have contributed to the preparation of this Research Topic