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Biomolecules
Special Issues
Molecular Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Activity and Resistance in Pathogens
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Molecular Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Activity and Resistance in Pathogens

A Special Issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X) belonging to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2027 | Viewed by 2218

Editor

Dr. Lia Mara Diţu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Microbiology Department, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Bucharest, Romania
Interests: antimicrobial strategies; anti-biofilm strategies; probiotic-prebiotics-plant compounds combinations; fungi resistance mechanisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue titled: Molecular Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Activity and Resistance in Pathogens. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), particularly multidrug resistance (MDR), represents one of the most critical global health threats, undermining the efficacy of current treatments and driving a surge in morbidity and mortality worldwide. Its rapid and persistent spread exhibits a pandemic-like pattern with no foreseeable end. Gaining a deep understanding of the molecular mechanisms that govern antimicrobial activity and resistance is essential for devising innovative strategies to counteract resistant pathogens. This research area integrates microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology and clinical science, providing valuable insights into drug–target interactions, genetic determinants of resistance and adaptive processes such as biofilm formation. Advancing knowledge in these domains is key to guiding the development of novel antimicrobials and alternative therapeutic approaches.

This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive platform for studies exploring the molecular basis of antimicrobial action and resistance in pathogenic microorganisms by addressing fundamental and applied aspects of microbiology, antimicrobial agents and resistance mechanisms. Contributions will cover molecular pathways, genetic regulation and innovative strategies to overcome resistance, ensuring relevance to both basic research and translational applications.

 In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Molecular targets and mechanisms of antimicrobial agents (antibacterial and/or antifungal agents)
  • Genetic and biochemical basis of antimicrobial resistance
  • Role of mobile genetic elements and horizontal gene transfer
  • Biofilm-associated resistance and regulatory pathways
  • Novel antimicrobial strategies (e.g., essential oils, prebiotics, nanoparticles, CRISPR-based approaches)
  • Synergistic effects of antimicrobial combinations (natural and bio-inspired Molecules)
  • Omics approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics) in resistance studies

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Lia Mara Diţu
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-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules 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 2700 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

  • MDR profile in fungi
  • anti-fungal strategies
  • drug–target interactions
  • nanotechnology in antimicrobials
  • quorum-sensing molecular interactions
  • biofilm

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

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

64 pages, 6239 KB  
Review
Innovative Strategies to Abolish Microbial Persistence in Biofilm Fortresses
by Diana-Antonia Costea, Valentina-Alexandra Badaluta, Ioana Zachia-Zlatea, Alina-Maria Holban, Lia-Mara Ditu and Veronica Lazar
Biomolecules 2026, 16(6), 887; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16060887 - 16 Jun 2026
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1769
Abstract
Biofilms are structured communities of microorganisms embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix, whose development significantly enhances microbial resistance to antibiotics, disinfectants, and host immune defenses, posing major challenges in clinical, industrial, and environmental settings. Compared with planktonic cells, biofilm-associated microorganisms [...] Read more.
Biofilms are structured communities of microorganisms embedded in a self-produced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix, whose development significantly enhances microbial resistance to antibiotics, disinfectants, and host immune defenses, posing major challenges in clinical, industrial, and environmental settings. Compared with planktonic cells, biofilm-associated microorganisms can exhibit up to 10- to 1000-fold increased tolerance to antimicrobial agents, contributing to the persistence of biofilm-associated infections (BAIs). These infections remain difficult to eradicate due to reduced penetration, altered metabolic states, and the presence of dormant or persister cells. Anti-biofilm strategies can be broadly classified into physical approaches (e.g., ultrasound, mechanical stress, and light-based approaches) that target biofilm structure; chemical and enzymatic methods (e.g., EPS-degrading enzymes) that destabilize the matrix; and biological and molecular strategies (e.g., quorum-sensing (QS) inhibitors, anti-virulence agents, bacteriophages, phage-derived antimicrobial molecules, antimicrobial peptides, and natural bioactive compounds) that modulate biofilm development and integrity by targeting regulatory pathways and matrix stability through distinct mechanisms of action. Natural compounds, including lactoferrin, lactoferrin-derived peptides, and probiotic and postbiotic fractions of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), as well as plant-derived metabolites, have shown promising anti-biofilm effects, with efficacy often enhanced through complementary or potentially synergistic interactions. However, despite these advancements, clinical translation remains limited. For example, BAIs account for approximately 80% of chronic infections, with high recurrence rates and therapeutic failure reported in device-associated infections and chronic wounds. These limitations highlight the need for clinically translatable, multimodal approaches that integrate structural biofilm disruption, antimicrobial targeting, and host response modulation to design more effective and sustainable anti-biofilm strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Activity and Resistance in Pathogens)
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