About this Research Topic
Infectious diseases caused by bacteria are one of the most important health problems worldwide. This is due to the increase in the prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. The increased antibiotic resistance in these pathogens may be related to the inadequate use and abuse of antimicrobials in humans as well as in domestic animals or those destined for consumption. In addition, the virulence characteristics of bacterial pathogens play a transcendental role in the development and persistence of the infectious process, and it has been observed that virulence characteristics such as biofilm or cell invasion also influence therapeutic failure. Both virulence factors and antibiotic resistance determinants are commonly encoded in mobilizable genetic elements, which has favored their dissemination and the emergence of highly virulent and antimicrobial-resistant bacterial clinical isolates; both of these properties in co-occurrence pose a real challenge in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of an infectious process. Molecular factors, including repressors, operators, enhancers, and insertion sequences, may be involved in the repression and overexpression of genes or gene clusters and may contribute to the expression levels of virulence and resistance genes.
The objective of this special issue entitled: "Epidemiology of Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Factors of Emerging and Re-emerging Bacteria" is to compile information focused on the prevalence of virulence and resistance determinants in emerging and re-emerging bacterial pathogens, as well as the genetic and molecular factors involved in the persistence of these traits, their regulation, and dissemination. Emerging bacteria can be defined as microorganisms previously not recognized to cause any human disease or newly appearing. Also, a bacterium is considered a re-emerging pathogen when it has not been associated with outbreaks for at least 20 years.
Points of interest may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Distribution of resistance-associated genes in emerging and re-emerging bacteria.
• Distribution of virulence-associated genes in emerging and re-emerging bacteria.
• Impact of regulatory elements on the expression of virulence and resistance genes in emerging and re-emerging bacteria.
• Mobilizable genetic elements carrying virulence or resistance genes in emerging and re-emerging bacteria.
Original articles, review articles, perspective articles, and short reports are welcome.
The objective of this special issue entitled: "Epidemiology of Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Factors of Emerging and Re-emerging Bacteria" is to compile information focused on the prevalence of virulence and resistance determinants in emerging and re-emerging bacterial pathogens, as well as the genetic and molecular factors involved in the persistence of these traits, their regulation, and dissemination. Emerging bacteria can be defined as microorganisms previously not recognized to cause any human disease or newly appearing. Also, a bacterium is considered a re-emerging pathogen when it has not been associated with outbreaks for at least 20 years.
Points of interest may include, but are not limited to, the following:
• Distribution of resistance-associated genes in emerging and re-emerging bacteria.
• Distribution of virulence-associated genes in emerging and re-emerging bacteria.
• Impact of regulatory elements on the expression of virulence and resistance genes in emerging and re-emerging bacteria.
• Mobilizable genetic elements carrying virulence or resistance genes in emerging and re-emerging bacteria.
Original articles, review articles, perspective articles, and short reports are welcome.
Keywords: Resistance, Virulence, Pathogenesis, Regulation of resistance and virulence, Mobilizable genetic elements
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
