Feature Reviews in Genetic and Biochemical Studies of Antibiotic Activity and Drug Resistance 2026

Dear Colleagues,

Antibiotic resistance (AMR) continues to escalate as one of the most critical health challenges of our time. While AMR manifestations are most visible in the clinic, the genetic and biochemical pathways that mediate susceptibility, adaptation, and resistance to antimicrobial agents are increasingly complex and interconnected.

Recent advances in high‑throughput omics, structural and computational biology, and quantitative biochemical methodologies have substantially expanded our comprehension of microbial defense systems and revolutionizing the developing of new antibiotics.

The aim of this Special Issue is to synthesize cutting‑edge knowledge at the intersection of genetics, biochemistry, and antibiotic research. We invite comprehensive, critical, and forward‑looking review articles covering topics such as the following:

• Genetic mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance and adaptation;
• Biochemical pathways influencing drug uptake, modification, and inactivation;
• Structural and molecular determinants of antibiotic–target interactions;
• Mechanisms of tolerance, persistence, and biofilm‑associated antibiotic failure;
• Advance approaches to studying antibiotic action mechanism;
• Novel molecular targets and innovative strategies to overcome bacterial defenses.

We hope these Feature Reviews will serve as a valuable reference for researchers in microbiology, biochemistry, genetics, biotechnology, and antimicrobial drug discovery, and will stimulate new interdisciplinary strategies to confront AMR in the years ahead.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Luís Cláudio Nascimento da Silva
Prof. Dr. Anders Løbner-Olesen
Prof. Dr. Karen Angeliki Krogfelt
Guest Editors

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.