About this Research Topic

Background

The rise of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms presents a formidable challenge to global health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified antibiotic resistance as one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity (https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/antimicrobial-resistance). In 2019, it was estimated that Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) was associated with approximately 4.95 million deaths, including 1.27 million deaths directly attributable to bacterial AMR. The six leading pathogens for deaths associated with resistance were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All these resistant pathogens are included in a 2017 WHO list for which new antibiotics are urgently needed (https://www.who.int/news/item/27-02-2017-who-publishes-list-of-bacteria-for-which-new-antibiotics-are-urgently-needed). From 2017 until 1 November 2021, only 12 new antibacterial drugs have been approved. Over 80% (10/12) of the newly approved antibiotics belong to existing antibiotic classes where resistance mechanisms are already established (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240047655).

AMR occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotics and other antimicrobials. The World Bank estimated that in a high AMR-impact scenario, the annual global gross domestic product (GDP) will lose 3.8 percent of its annual GDP by 2050, with an annual shortfall of $3.4 trillion by 2030.
The economic burden of antibiotic resistance is substantial, with the attributable cost of resistant infection ranging from thousands to tens of thousands of US dollars per patient episode. This not only strains healthcare systems but also poses a significant threat to our economies. The economic toll of AMR encompasses various facets. Firstly, the escalation of resistant infections prolongs hospital stays, necessitates more intensive treatments, and escalates healthcare expenditures. Furthermore, the diminished efficacy of existing antibiotics undermines their value as essential tools in various medical procedures, including surgeries, organ transplants, and cancer treatments, thereby amplifying the risks associated with these interventions.

Moreover, antibiotic resistance exacts a toll on productivity and economic growth. Resistant infections impede workforce participation due to illness and disability, leading to absenteeism and reduced productivity. Additionally, the burden of caring for individuals affected by resistant infections places strain on families and communities, further impeding economic development.

Beyond the dry statistics, the AMR crisis causes significant human suffering for patients and their families. This suffering is likely to be reduced through the development and application of new antibiotic treatments.
Regrettably, the arsenal of antibiotic drugs, particularly those employing novel mechanisms of action, introduced in recent decades is extremely limited. Traditional approaches to antibiotic development have often hit a wall, failing to yield new antibiotics that can effectively combat resistant strains. This necessitates a pivot towards innovative and groundbreaking strategies rooted in the latest technological advancements.

This call for papers is directed towards researchers engaged in the exploration of new antibiotics and/or alternative treatments aimed at addressing the emergence of resistant microorganisms.

We welcome studies across various categories, including but not limited to:

• Fundamental research on novel mechanisms of action of antibiotics, including those that can overcome known
resistance mechanisms.
• Clinical studies that evaluate the efficacy and safety of new antibiotics or alternative treatments.
• Utilization of AI platforms for antibiotic discovery, resistance prediction, and personalized treatment strategies.
• Bacteriophage therapy or phage-derived enzymes.
• Trojan-horse based therapy and metal complexes with antimicrobial activity (metalloantibiotics).
• Microbiome-modulating agents.
• Immunomodulatory compounds.
• New antibiotics from natural sources, including microorganisms as a major source of most antibiotics in clinical
use.

This call for scientific papers seeks to engage researchers across diverse disciplines in advancing our understanding of antibiotic resistance and exploring novel solutions to this pressing global threat. In addition to fundamental research on the mechanisms of antibiotic action and resistance, we encourage submissions that delve into clinical studies evaluating new therapeutic approaches, the use of AI platforms for drug discovery and optimization.

We accept all article types listed in the Antimicrobials, Resistance and Chemotherapy section, Phage Biology section and Host and Microbe Associations section.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

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Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance, ESKAPE pathogens, Trojan-horse therapy, Bacteriophage therapy, Novel antibiotics, WHO priority pathogens, AI based antibiotic discovery, Microbiome-modulating agents

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.

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