About this Research Topic
Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest threats to global health, food security, and development today. The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared that antibiotic resistance is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity. A growing number of infections – such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, gonorrhea, and salmonellosis – are becoming harder to treat as the antibiotics used to treat them become less effective. Misuse and overuse of antimicrobials are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens.
WHO has released a groundbreaking list of antibiotic-resistant priority pathogens, outlining twelve bacterial families that pose an immense threat to human well-being. Categorized into three tiers based on the urgency for new antibiotics, the list encompasses critical priority pathogens, high priority pathogens, and medium priority pathogens. Critical priority pathogens include Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and members of Enterobacteriaceae (Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, Serratia, and Proteus). The high priority group comprises Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter spp., Salmonellae, and Neisseria gonorrhea. Lastly, medium priority pathogens consist of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, and Shigella spp.
These bacteria have become resistant to a large number of antibiotics, including carbapenems, vancomycin, methicillin, fluoroquinolone and third-generation cephalosporins – the best available antibiotics for treating multi-drug resistant bacteria.
The emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a critical global health challenge, necessitating the urgent exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies. Natural products derived from botanicals, fungi, soil, and marine sources have demonstrated promising bioactive properties and are potential reservoirs of novel compounds with antimicrobial activity. Compounds from Brazilian peppertree, American beautyberry, and European chestnut have been found to inhibit dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Researchers unearthed a new strain of bacteria in medicinally active Irish soil effective against top four multi-resistant pathogens. The investigation of marine sponge Agelas dispar led to the discovery of a powerful antimicrobial compound called Dibromoageliferin, which belongs to the bromopyrrole alkaloid class. This compound exhibited remarkable effectiveness against multidrug-resistant pathogens, offering promising potential for combating challenging bacterial infections. This research topic aims to investigate the efficacy of these diverse natural sources against WHO priority list of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, with the ultimate goal of identifying and developing new therapeutics to combat antibiotic resistance. This research theme welcomes original research articles and review articles from researchers worldwide, contributing to the collective effort in unearthing nature's potential to unveil the future of antibiotics and combat antibiotic resistance effectively.
Objectives:
1. Conduct an extensive literature review to compile existing research on the antimicrobial properties of natural products, sourced from botanicals, fungi, soil, and marine environments. This comprehensive resource will guide the identification of potential candidates in the battle against antibiotic resistance.
2. Perform rigorous in vitro assays to evaluate the effectiveness of selected natural product extracts against critical, high, and medium priority pathogens identified by the WHO. These evaluations will offer valuable insights into the compounds' antimicrobial potential.
3. Undertake detailed mechanistic studies to uncover the mode of action of bioactive natural compounds against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms will drive the development of targeted therapeutic interventions.
4. Investigate the synergistic effects of combining natural product extracts with existing antibiotics, particularly in the context of critical and high priority pathogens. This approach aims to optimize antibacterial efficacy and counter the development of resistance.
5. Conduct preclinical assessments of lead natural product compounds exhibiting potent antimicrobial activity, evaluating their safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy in animal models of antibiotic-resistant infections. This pivotal step will accelerate the transition of potential therapeutic candidates towards future clinical applications.
Studies need to comply with the best practice guidelines of the section if plant extract are investigated including the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology. A detailed description of the material studied, its extraction and processing is essential. You can freely download the full version here. Please self-assess your MS using the ConPhyMP tool, and follow the standards established in the ConPhyMP statement Front. Pharmacol. 13:953205.
WHO has released a groundbreaking list of antibiotic-resistant priority pathogens, outlining twelve bacterial families that pose an immense threat to human well-being. Categorized into three tiers based on the urgency for new antibiotics, the list encompasses critical priority pathogens, high priority pathogens, and medium priority pathogens. Critical priority pathogens include Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and members of Enterobacteriaceae (Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, Serratia, and Proteus). The high priority group comprises Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Helicobacter pylori, Campylobacter spp., Salmonellae, and Neisseria gonorrhea. Lastly, medium priority pathogens consist of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenza, and Shigella spp.
These bacteria have become resistant to a large number of antibiotics, including carbapenems, vancomycin, methicillin, fluoroquinolone and third-generation cephalosporins – the best available antibiotics for treating multi-drug resistant bacteria.
The emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a critical global health challenge, necessitating the urgent exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies. Natural products derived from botanicals, fungi, soil, and marine sources have demonstrated promising bioactive properties and are potential reservoirs of novel compounds with antimicrobial activity. Compounds from Brazilian peppertree, American beautyberry, and European chestnut have been found to inhibit dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Researchers unearthed a new strain of bacteria in medicinally active Irish soil effective against top four multi-resistant pathogens. The investigation of marine sponge Agelas dispar led to the discovery of a powerful antimicrobial compound called Dibromoageliferin, which belongs to the bromopyrrole alkaloid class. This compound exhibited remarkable effectiveness against multidrug-resistant pathogens, offering promising potential for combating challenging bacterial infections. This research topic aims to investigate the efficacy of these diverse natural sources against WHO priority list of antibiotic-resistant pathogens, with the ultimate goal of identifying and developing new therapeutics to combat antibiotic resistance. This research theme welcomes original research articles and review articles from researchers worldwide, contributing to the collective effort in unearthing nature's potential to unveil the future of antibiotics and combat antibiotic resistance effectively.
Objectives:
1. Conduct an extensive literature review to compile existing research on the antimicrobial properties of natural products, sourced from botanicals, fungi, soil, and marine environments. This comprehensive resource will guide the identification of potential candidates in the battle against antibiotic resistance.
2. Perform rigorous in vitro assays to evaluate the effectiveness of selected natural product extracts against critical, high, and medium priority pathogens identified by the WHO. These evaluations will offer valuable insights into the compounds' antimicrobial potential.
3. Undertake detailed mechanistic studies to uncover the mode of action of bioactive natural compounds against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms will drive the development of targeted therapeutic interventions.
4. Investigate the synergistic effects of combining natural product extracts with existing antibiotics, particularly in the context of critical and high priority pathogens. This approach aims to optimize antibacterial efficacy and counter the development of resistance.
5. Conduct preclinical assessments of lead natural product compounds exhibiting potent antimicrobial activity, evaluating their safety, pharmacokinetics, and efficacy in animal models of antibiotic-resistant infections. This pivotal step will accelerate the transition of potential therapeutic candidates towards future clinical applications.
Studies need to comply with the best practice guidelines of the section if plant extract are investigated including the Four Pillars of Best Practice in Ethnopharmacology. A detailed description of the material studied, its extraction and processing is essential. You can freely download the full version here. Please self-assess your MS using the ConPhyMP tool, and follow the standards established in the ConPhyMP statement Front. Pharmacol. 13:953205.
Keywords: Antibiotic resistance, natural products, multidrug-resistant pathogens, World Health Organization, antimicrobial activity, medicinal plants, fungi, soil, marine sources, in vitro screening, mechanistic studies, synergy, preclinical assessment
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.
