Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in the Food Chain: Detection Gaps and Mitigation Strategies
A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antibiotics in Animal Health".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 19
Special Issue Editors
Interests: bacterial infections; biofilm; virulence; antimicrobial resistance; Escherichia coli; gene expression; probiotics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: diagnosis of pathogens; biofilms; diagnosis of pathogens; biofilms; biomedical engineering; clinical and forensic analytical toxicology; development of methodologies; virulence of microorganisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) continues to pose an escalating threat to global public health, with the food chain serving as a key pathway for the transmission of resistant pathogens and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) from animals to humans. This Special Issue explores whether current surveillance and detection methods are sufficiently sensitive and robust to address the full complexity of AMR dynamics across the food production chain, from farm to fork, while also critically evaluating the strategies available to mitigate these risks.
This research topic encompasses studies examining the strengths and limitations of conventional microbiological assays, molecular diagnostics, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and metagenomic approaches. In particular, we aim to identify gaps in detection thresholds, sample representativeness, and cross-sector data harmonization that currently hinder effective monitoring.
In parallel, this Issue places strong emphasis on mitigation strategies needed to reduce AMR emergence and transmission through the food chain. This includes
- Implementing integrated One Health surveillance systems to link human, animal, and environmental data;
- Reducing antimicrobial use in agriculture and livestock through stewardship programs, regulatory controls, and alternatives such as vaccines, bacteriophages, aptamers, prebiotics and probiotics, essential oils, among other strategies;
- Improving biosecurity and sanitation across all stages of food production and processing;
- Investing in scalable, rapid diagnostic technologies for real-time detection of resistance.
In this context, this publication aims to support the advancement of effective, science-based approaches to AMR monitoring and mitigation. Ultimately, it seeks to inform stronger risk assessment frameworks, support global coordination, and enhance the early detection and control of antimicrobial resistance in the food chain.
Dr. Joana Castro
Dr. José António Baptista Machado Soares
Guest Editors
Dr. Ricardo Oliveira
Guest Editor Assistant
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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 resistance (AMR)
- foodborne pathogens
- surveillance
- detection methods
- mitigation strategies
- One Health
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