Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.7
4.6
Journals
Antibiotics
Special Issues
Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) Against Human Pathogens
share announcement

Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) Against Human Pathogens

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antimicrobial Peptides".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 2135

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Pedro Souza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Laboratory of Bioinformatics Applied to Human Health, Center for Drug Research and Development (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60355-636, Brazil
Interests: antimicrobial peptides (AMPs); molecular biology; synthetic and bioengineered peptide; biochemistry and virology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as one of the most promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics in the fight against human pathogens. These naturally occurring molecules exhibit broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, often with unique mechanisms that reduce the likelihood of resistance development. Beyond their direct antimicrobial effects, AMPs can also modulate the immune response, promote wound healing, and influence microbiome balance, making them highly versatile therapeutic candidates.

This Special Issue will bring together cutting-edge research and reviews focused on the discovery, design, and application of AMPs against clinically relevant pathogens. We particularly welcome contributions addressing novel mechanisms of action, structure–function relationships, synthetic and bioengineered peptide strategies, delivery systems, clinical trials, and the role of AMPs in overcoming antimicrobial resistance.

By providing a platform for interdisciplinary discussion, this Special Issue aims to highlight recent advances in AMP research and inspire innovative approaches toward their translation into effective therapies for human health.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Pedro Souza
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)
  • mechanisms
  • structure–function relationships
  • synthetic and bioengineered peptides

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

12 pages, 2335 KB  
Communication
The Antimicrobial Peptide C14R Is Active Against All Pathogenic Species of the ESKAPE Group
by Daniel Gruber, Verena Vogel, Jan-Christoph Walter, Grigory Bolotnikov, Armando Rodríguez, Nico Preising, Ludger Ständker, Carolina Firacative, Barbara Spellerberg, Ann-Kathrin Kissmann and Frank Rosenau
Antibiotics 2026, 15(2), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics15020211 - 15 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1017
Abstract
The global rise in antimicrobial resistance among the ESKAPE pathogens represents a major challenge to public health. Here, we report the broad-spectrum antibacterial activity of the synthetic antimicrobial and pore-forming peptide C14R against all six ESKAPE species. Using a radial diffusion assay and [...] Read more.
The global rise in antimicrobial resistance among the ESKAPE pathogens represents a major challenge to public health. Here, we report the broad-spectrum antibacterial activity of the synthetic antimicrobial and pore-forming peptide C14R against all six ESKAPE species. Using a radial diffusion assay and resazurin-based viability testing, C14R exhibited a potent bactericidal effect with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), defined as the lowest concentration of an antimicrobial agent that completely inhibits visible growth of planktonic microorganisms, ranging from 3.4 µg/mL (Enterococcus faecium, vancomycin-resistant) to 45.2 µg/mL (Klebsiella quasipneumoniae, ESBL). C14R also inhibited biofilm formation by Gram-positive pathogens, with minimum biofilm inhibitory concentrations (MBICs), referring to the minimal concentration required to prevent the development of biofilms, of 15.0 µg/mL (Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA) and 22.0 µg/mL (E. faecium, VRE), whereas Gram-negative biofilms showed higher tolerance. Together, these findings demonstrate that C14R retains high activity against multidrug-resistant ESKAPE strains, highlighting its potential as a lead compound for the development of next-generation antimicrobial drugs to expand the portfolio of available antibiotics and brace health systems against emerging severe infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) Against Human Pathogens)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 1182 KB  
Article
DVL, a Lectin from Dioclea violacea Seeds, Disturbs the Proteomic Profile of Candida krusei, Leading to Cell Death
by Romério R. S. Silva, Rayara J. P. Carvalho, Maria H. C. Santos, Ana L. E. Santos, Rômulo F. Carneiro, Celso S. Nagano, Pedro F. N. Souza and Claudener S. Teixeira
Antibiotics 2025, 14(12), 1228; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14121228 - 5 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 834
Abstract
Background/Objectives Plant lectins have emerged as potential antifungal molecules, where the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) is possibly the main mode of action of these proteins. Previously, we saw that the lectin extracted from the seeds of Dioclea violacea (DVL) has anti-candida activity against [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives Plant lectins have emerged as potential antifungal molecules, where the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) is possibly the main mode of action of these proteins. Previously, we saw that the lectin extracted from the seeds of Dioclea violacea (DVL) has anti-candida activity against Candida krusei cells by acting to inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis, cell wall deformation, and deregulation of the redox system. Methods We have now confirmed this anti-candida activity by proteomic analysis, with the expression of proteins that show us how C. krusei cells respond to this treatment. Results A total of 395 proteins were identified: 142 proteins exclusively found in untreated C. krusei cells and 245 proteins exclusive to DVL-treated cells. Eight proteins were detected in both conditions. Six displayed positive accumulation (fold change > 1.5), one exhibited negative accumulation (fold change < 0.5). We observed the expression of proteins related to cell wall remodeling; alteration of energy metabolism, suggesting a metabolic adaptation to stress; oxidative stress was responded to through the expression of proteins with antioxidant action, in addition to identifying multidrug transport proteins that are often involved in the process of antifungal resistance and sterol transport to the membrane. Conclusions Our results show the complexity of adaptive responses of C. krusei cells to treatment with DVL, elucidating new mechanisms of resistance and paving the way for the development of more effective and innovative antifungal therapies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) Against Human Pathogens)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-2
Back to TopTop