Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence in Bacterial Isolates: A Genomic Perspective from Human and Animal Sources

Dear Colleagues,

Antibiotic resistance is a growing concern that affects not only human health but also veterinary medicine and agriculture. The ability of bacteria to develop resistance to multiple antibiotics can be attributed to various genetic mechanisms, including the acquisition of resistance genes through horizontal gene transfer. This Special Issue seeks to shed light on the genomic factors contributing to antibiotic resistance and the increased virulence of bacterial pathogens, which can lead to more severe infections and reduced treatment options.

This issue will cover a range of topics, including, but not limited to the following:

1. Genomic characterization of multidrug resistant bacteria (MDRB) isolates from human and animal sources.
2. Identification and analysis of novel resistance genes and mobile genetic elements.
3. Comparative genomics to understand the evolution and spread of resistance mechanisms.
4. The role of virulence factors in the pathogenesis of resistant infections.
5. The impact of antibiotic use in agriculture on the emergence of resistance in zoonotic pathogens.
6. Genomic surveillance and tracking of resistance genes in environmental reservoirs.
7. Development of novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies targeting resistant bacteria.

We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that address the genomic aspects of antibiotic resistance and virulence in bacterial isolates from human and animal sources. Submissions should provide new insights into the mechanisms of resistance, the genomic basis of virulence, or the development of strategies to mitigate the spread of MDRB.

Dr. Sónia Ramos
Dr. Alexandra Nunes
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.