Innovative and Translational Antibiosis Approaches to Tackling Protozoan Parasites: Synergy, Drug Repurposing, Natural Products, Molecular Targets, and Therapeutic Design
A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2026 | Viewed by 668
Special Issue Editor
Interests: parasitic diseases; vaccines; immunology of infectious diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Protozoan neglected diseases, such as leishmaniasis, Chagas disease, African trypanosomiasis, amebiasis, and giardiasis, remain a major global health challenge, particularly in regions with limited access to healthcare. A critical limitation in current therapies is the increasing resistance of protozoan parasites to available drugs, together with frequent therapeutic failures, reflecting the global challenge of antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, this Special Issue will highlight strategies that directly address antiparasitic drug resistance, advancing the wider efforts against antimicrobial resistance but in the specific context of protozoan pathogens. This Special Issue will focus on novel therapeutic approaches to tackling protozoan parasites, emphasizing synergistic drug combinations, the repurposing of clinically approved compounds, natural products with antiparasitic activity, and the rational design of new chemical entities. We also welcome studies on molecular targets and mechanisms of action, as well as contributions exploring structure–activity relationships and omics-driven discoveries. We especially welcome manuscripts addressing beneficial microorganisms and probiotic-based interventions, which represent a promising frontier in antiparasitic therapy through the modulation of host–parasite interactions and the enhancement of immune responses. In addition, both in vitro and in vivo models will be considered, including studies that connect molecular insights with translational applications. By integrating drug repurposing, natural compound discovery, synergistic strategies, microbial therapies, and therapeutic design, this Special Issue will provide a comprehensive platform for advancing antibiosis research and developing safer, more effective treatments against protozoan neglected diseases.
Dr. Leonardo Acuña
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
- drug repurposing for neglected tropical diseases
- natural products with antiparasitic activity
- synergistic drug combinations
- molecular targets and mechanisms of action
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.
