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Antibiotics
Special Issues
Addressing the Challenge of Antibiotic Resistance with Existing Antibiotics
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Addressing the Challenge of Antibiotic Resistance with Existing Antibiotics

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Mechanism and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (5 October 2025) | Viewed by 3284

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Xuanxian Peng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, State Key Laboratory of Bio-Control, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, University City, Guangzhou 510006, China
Interests: bacteria; antibiotic resistance; metabolic reprogramming; antibiotic resistance mechanisms; reprogramming metabolites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antibiotic resistance poses a big challenge to human health and animal feeding. Since the pipeline of new antibiotic discoveries is becoming more limited, restoring and increasing existing antibacterials that are already subject to resistance is an alternative approach.

The Special Issue aims to highlight the use of a range of effective strategies for synergizing antibacterial agents with drugs or adjuvants against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. It includes, but is not limited to, the following research:

  1. Clinical epidemiology and characteristic analysis of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
  2. The synergistic effect of antibacterial agents and metabolites against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
  3. The synergistic effect of antibacterial agents and chemicals against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
  4. The synergistic effect of antibacterial agents and other antibacterial agents against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
  5. The synergistic effect of antibacterial agents and non-antibacterial agents against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Prof. Dr. Xuanxian Peng
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

  • antibiotic resistance
  • antibacterial agents
  • metabolites
  • antibiotic-resistant bacteria

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 1192 KB  
Article
Resistance Mechanisms of Fluoroquinolone in Escherichia coli Isolated from Taihe Black-Boned Silky Fowl Exhibiting Abnormally Slow Fluoroquinolone Metabolism in Jiangxi, China
by Li Zhang, Mengjun Ye, Yifan Dong, Lijuan Yuan, Jianjun Xiang, Xiren Yu, Qiegen Liao, Qiushuang Ai, Suyan Qiu and Dawen Zhang
Antibiotics 2025, 14(9), 955; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14090955 - 21 Sep 2025
Viewed by 883
Abstract
Objectives: The Taihe Black-Boned Silky Fowl (TBSF) is a unique indigenous chicken breed in China, characterized by widespread melanin deposition throughout its body. Fluoroquinolones (FQs) such as enrofloxacin can persist in TBSF for an extended period exceeding 100 days. The aim of this [...] Read more.
Objectives: The Taihe Black-Boned Silky Fowl (TBSF) is a unique indigenous chicken breed in China, characterized by widespread melanin deposition throughout its body. Fluoroquinolones (FQs) such as enrofloxacin can persist in TBSF for an extended period exceeding 100 days. The aim of this study was to examine the current status and development trends of FQ resistance within the TBSF breeding environment. Methods: Whole-genome sequencing was utilized to identify the molecular presence of quinolone resistance-determining region (QRDR) mutations and plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) genes in Escherichia coli isolates obtained from TBSF farms. Network inference based on strong Spearman correlations (ρ > 0.5) and statistically significant associations (p-value < 0.05) was applied to investigate the co-occurrence patterns among FQ residues, resistance phenotypes, and antibiotic resistance genes. Results: The results showed that FQ residues were identified as the primary contributor to FQ resistance in E. coli isolates. Mutations at QRDR sites were the predominant factor driving FQ resistance, rather than PMQR determinants. This study also reported the first identification of GyrA-S83Q mutation being associated with FQ resistance. Conclusions: It was concluded that E. coli strains in TBSF environments, where chickens have a long-term residual metabolic cycle of antimicrobials, may develop and evolve new mechanisms to adapt to this environment. Further research is warranted to investigate the evolution of FQ resistance in E. coli strains within TBSF environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Addressing the Challenge of Antibiotic Resistance with Existing Antibiotics)
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17 pages, 5365 KB  
Article
What Is the Impact of Antibiotic Resistance Determinants on the Bacterial Death Rate?
by Bruno T. S. Luz, João S. Rebelo, Francisca Monteiro and Francisco Dionisio
Antibiotics 2025, 14(2), 201; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14020201 - 14 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1305
Abstract
Objectives: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are widespread, with resistance arising from chromosomal mutations and resistance genes located in the chromosome or in mobile genetic elements. While resistance determinants often reduce bacterial growth rates, their influence on bacterial death under bactericidal antibiotics remains poorly understood. When [...] Read more.
Objectives: Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are widespread, with resistance arising from chromosomal mutations and resistance genes located in the chromosome or in mobile genetic elements. While resistance determinants often reduce bacterial growth rates, their influence on bacterial death under bactericidal antibiotics remains poorly understood. When bacteria are exposed to bactericidal antibiotics to which they are susceptible, they typically undergo a two-phase decline: a fast initial exponentially decaying phase, followed by a persistent slow-decaying phase. This study examined how resistance determinants affect death rates during both phases. Methods: We analyzed the death rates of ampicillin-exposed Escherichia coli populations of strains sensitive to ampicillin but resistant to nalidixic acid, rifampicin, or both, and bacteria carrying the conjugative plasmids RN3 or R702. Results: Single mutants resistant to nalidixic acid or rifampicin decayed faster than sensitive cells during the early phase, whereas the double-resistant mutant exhibited prolonged survival. These contrasting impacts suggest epistatic interactions between both chromosomal mutations. Persistent-phase death rates for chromosomal mutants did not differ significantly from wild-type cells. In contrast, plasmid-carrying bacteria displayed distinct dynamics: R702 plasmid-bearing cells showed higher persistent-phase death rates than plasmid-free cells, while RN3 plasmid-bearing cells exhibited lower rates. Conclusions: Bactericidal antibiotics may kill bacteria resistant to other antibiotics more effectively than wild-type cells. Moreover, epistasis may occur when different resistance determinants occur in the same cell, impacting the bactericidal potential of the antibiotic of choice. These results have significant implications for optimizing bacterial eradication protocols in clinical settings, as well as in animal health and industrial food safety management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Addressing the Challenge of Antibiotic Resistance with Existing Antibiotics)
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Review

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28 pages, 762 KB  
Review
Mechanisms and Evolution of Antimicrobial Resistance in Ophthalmology: Surveillance, Clinical Implications, and Future Therapies
by Isaiah Osei Duah Junior, Josephine Ampong and Cynthia Amaning Danquah
Antibiotics 2025, 14(11), 1167; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14111167 - 20 Nov 2025
Viewed by 490
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health concern with profound implications for ophthalmology, where it compromises the management of ocular infections such as bacterial keratitis, conjunctivitis, endophthalmitis, and postoperative complications. Resistance in common ocular pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health concern with profound implications for ophthalmology, where it compromises the management of ocular infections such as bacterial keratitis, conjunctivitis, endophthalmitis, and postoperative complications. Resistance in common ocular pathogens, including Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa), and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) emerge through genetic mutations, horizontal gene transfer, and biochemical mechanisms such as enzymatic degradation, target modification, efflux pumps, and reduced membrane permeability. Biofilm formation further complicates eradication on the ocular surface and interior. The key drivers of resistance include inappropriate or prolonged topical antibiotic use, routine prophylaxis in ocular surgery, subtherapeutic dosing, and cross-resistance with systemic antimicrobials. The rise in multidrug-resistant strains, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus, fluoroquinolone-resistant P. aeruginosa, and drug-resistant S. pneumoniae has been linked to delayed treatment response, increased healthcare costs, and sight-threatening outcomes. Recent advances in rapid diagnostics, molecular assays, and point-of-care testing support earlier and more precise detection of resistance, enabling timely therapeutic decisions. Promising strategies to address AMR in ophthalmology include antimicrobial stewardship, novel drug delivery platforms, and alternative approaches such as bacteriophage therapy and antimicrobial peptides. Emerging tools, including genomic surveillance, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven resistance prediction, and personalized antimicrobial regimens, further expand opportunities for innovation. Collectively, this review synthesizes current evidence on AMR in ocular disease, summarizing patterns of resistance, underlying mechanisms, and clinical consequences, while highlighting strategies for mitigation and underscoring the need for global awareness and collaboration among clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to safeguard vision. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Addressing the Challenge of Antibiotic Resistance with Existing Antibiotics)
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