New therapeutics to combat antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is a significant pathogen responsible for a variety of infectious diseases, including skin infections, bacteremia, endocarditis, and fatal pneumonia. It is part of the ESKAPE group, which comprises bacteria that are highly relevant in the context of infection and drug resistance. Conventional antibiotics, which are natural products of microorganisms, target various cellular structures or processes to combat these pathogens. However, S. aureus has developed resistance mechanisms against multiple antibacterial drugs, particularly those effective against Gram-positive species, such as beta-lactamase and glycopeptides. The most notorious drug-resistant strains include MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus), but resistance has also been observed against glycopeptides, oxazolidinones, macrolides, lincosamides, ketolides, streptogramins B, fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, mupirocin, fusidic acid, and daptomycin. Despite ongoing research into alternative treatments like nanoparticles, quorum sensing inhibition, iron chelation, and phage therapy, the high virulence and adaptability of S. aureus, coupled with a mortality rate of up to 50% for resistant infections, underscore the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies.

This research topic aims to investigate new potential therapies for treating infections caused by antibiotic-resistant S. aureus strains. The primary objectives include identifying novel antibacterial substances, developing new procedures to combat the disease, and evaluating the synergistic activity of new compounds in combination with existing antibiotics. By addressing these aims, the research seeks to provide innovative solutions to a critical public health challenge and improve clinical outcomes for patients suffering from resistant staphylococcal infections.

To gather further insights into the development of new therapeutics for antibiotic-resistant S. aureus, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:
- Discovery and characterization of novel antibacterial compounds
- Mechanisms of action and resistance of new therapeutic agents
- Synergistic effects of new compounds with existing antibiotics
- Innovative drug delivery systems for targeting S. aureus
- Clinical trials and case reports on new treatment protocols
- Role of nanoparticles, quorum sensing inhibitors, and iron chelators in combating S. aureus
- Phage therapy and its potential in treating resistant infections
- Molecular and genetic studies on S. aureusresistance mechanisms