Feature Reviews in Mechanism and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance 2026

Dear Colleagues,

The processes of microbial evolution and natural selection under antimicrobial pressure have enabled bacterial pathogens to outpace both the development of new antibiotics and the effectiveness of existing agents. While the molecular mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance vary in their origins and modes of action, they share a functional consequence: limiting the ability of an antimicrobial agent to reach its cellular targets. Over the past several decades, investigations have revealed the impact of mutations in the core bacterial genome and the horizontal acquisition of resistance determinants that lead to resistance, tolerance, and reduced susceptibility. These findings highlight the adaptability and plasticity of bacterial genomes in the face of antimicrobial pressure.  Advances in genomics and functional omics have further refined our understanding of how resistance, persistence, and tolerance arise and are maintained under antimicrobial stress.

This Special Issue, Feature Reviews in Mechanism and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance 2026, seeks to gather authoritative review articles that synthesize current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms and evolutionary dynamics driving antibiotic resistance. We particularly encourage contributions addressing intrinsic and acquired resistance mechanisms, resistance evolution under clinical and environmental selective pressures, and insights derived from omics-based approaches and molecular epidemiology. By bringing together critical, integrative, and forward-looking reviews, this Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive resource to advance antimicrobial research and inform the development of future therapeutic strategies.

Dr. Krisztina M. Papp-Wallace
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.