Mechanism and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
A section of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).
Section Information
Because of the continued process of evolution and natural selection with antimicrobials, bacterial pathogens are gaining the edge over human ingenuity and our collective ability to produce new antimicrobials and utilize existing antimicrobials wisely. While mechanisms of bacterial antibiotic resistance vary in their mechanics and genetic underpinnings, all mechanisms of resistance essentially disallow antimicrobials from reaching their specific target or targets. Over the past 80 years, scientists from around the world have identified numerous mutations and genes that mediate antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The ability of antibiotics to select for bacterial mutants has revealed the degree to which mutations in bacterial genomes can alter metabolic functions and yet still support resistance expression. In addition to becoming resistant to antibiotics given systemically to patients to cure serious bacterial infections, bacterial pathogens can also demonstrate reduced susceptibility or tolerance to “multitargeting” antimicrobials such as disinfectants, antiseptics, and biocides (e.g., alcohols, essential oils, triclosan). If fact, all bacteria demonstrate a level of susceptibility to numerous antimicrobials, and certain bacterial pathogens can express “intrinsic resistance” to certain antimicrobials, which can be supported solely by their own evolved genome complement (e.g., genes encoding the outer membrane, toxin–antitoxin systems, or multidrug efflux pumps). In fact, it is now known that many intrinsic gene products are required for clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance mutations or genes to function. New knowledge on how bacteria become resistant or demonstrate reduced susceptibility to antimicrobials allows researchers to identify targets for the development of new antimicrobials.
The Section “Mechanism and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance” seeks any and all manuscripts that describe intrinsic and horizontally transmitted genes, mutations, and mechanisms that bacteria evolve and/or utilize to remain viable during and following clinical or laboratory antimicrobial challenges. These mechanisms include the contributions of genes and mutations that support persistence, tolerance, biofilm production, and reduced susceptibility. Since we are now deep into the “omics” era, manuscripts with data from omics “fishing trips” that describe the bacterial response to antimicrobials are also sought after. Authors are also encouraged to submit molecular epidemiology projects that follow the evolution of existing antimicrobial-resistant determinants of all varieties or that contribute to our knowledge of antimicrobial resistance gene reservoirs.
Editorial Board
Topical Advisory Panel
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Staphylococcus— Molecular Pathogenesis, Virulence Regulation and Antibiotics Resistance (Deadline: 15 November 2024)
- Antibiotics Resistance and Molecular Epidemiology of Carbapenem-Resistance Bacteria (Deadline: 15 November 2024)
- Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes of Pathogens, 2nd Edition (Deadline: 15 November 2024)
- Microbial Resistance to Carbapenems: Epidemiology, Detection and Treatment Options (Deadline: 20 November 2024)
- Epidemiological Data on Antibiotic Resistance (Deadline: 30 November 2024)
- Molecular Detection, Pathogenesis, Antimicrobial Resistance and Mechanisms of Mycoplasma Isolates (Deadline: 30 November 2024)
- The Molecular Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance of MRSA (Deadline: 15 December 2024)
- Antimicrobial Resistance Evolution and New Strategies to Fight It (Deadline: 20 December 2024)
- Antimicrobial Resistance Genes: Spread and Evolution (Deadline: 31 December 2024)
- Molecular Evolution and Pathogenicity of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 2nd Edition (Deadline: 31 December 2024)
- Distribution, Sources and Risks of Bacteria and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in the Environment (Deadline: 31 December 2024)
- Pathogenic Escherichia coli: Virulence Mechanism and Antimicrobial Resistance (Deadline: 31 December 2024)
- Genetic Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance under the One Health Approach (Deadline: 20 January 2025)
- Molecular Epidemiology and Mechanisms of Carbapenem Resistance in Clinical Gram-Negative Bacteria (Deadline: 31 January 2025)
- Tracking Reservoirs of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Environment (Deadline: 15 February 2025)
- Genomic Characterization of Antimicrobial Resistance and Evolution Mechanism of Bacteria (Deadline: 28 February 2025)
- Mechanism of Carbapenem Resistance in Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Deadline: 28 February 2025)
- Addressing the Challenge of Antibiotic Resistance with Existing Antibiotics (Deadline: 15 March 2025)
- Molecular Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Trends in Gram-Negative Bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Deadline: 31 March 2025)
- Multidrug-Resistance Patterns in Infectious Pathogens (Deadline: 31 March 2025)
- Antibiotic Resistance in Wastewater Treatment Plants (Deadline: 15 April 2025)
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Environmental Health, 2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 April 2025)
- The Spread of Antibiotic Resistance in Natural Environments (Deadline: 30 April 2025)
- Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Mechanisms in Gram-Negative Bacteria: An Alliance for Success (Deadline: 1 May 2025)
- Machine Learning for Antimicrobial Resistance Prediction, 2nd Edition (Deadline: 15 May 2025)
- Genomic Analysis of Drug-Resistant Pathogens (Deadline: 20 May 2025)
- Genetic Mechanisms of Bacterial Survival: Antibiotic Resistance and Defense Strategies (Deadline: 31 May 2025)
- Metagenomics for Surveillance of Pathogens and/or Antimicrobial Resistance (Deadline: 31 May 2025)
- Antibiotic Resistance: The Role of Aquatic Environments (Deadline: 15 June 2025)
- Recent Advances in Efflux Pump Inhibitors and Their Role in Combatting Multidrug Resistance (Deadline: 30 June 2025)
- Antimicrobial Resistance and One Health: New Solutions for an Old Problem? (Deadline: 31 July 2025)