Dear Colleagues,

The discovery of antibiotics represented a substantial and significant improvement in our quality of life. Unfortunately, soon after the first antibiotic was available, bacteria surviving treatment emerged and, nowadays, resistant species can be found for almost all antibiotics, posing a growing threat to modern medicine. Moreover, multidrug-resistant bacteria are coming into play and there is increasing evidence supporting connections between bacterial infections and development of serious illnesses, such as cancer or neurodegeneration. Consequently, the scientific community is becoming more and more concerned about the need of finding new ways to fight harmful bacteria. Initiatives aiming at this end are progressively concentrating research efforts. On a broader level, involving all relevant sectors, several lines of action are being undertaken within the human-animal-environment axis in the context of One Health.

This Special Issue will be focused on the description of mechanisms used by bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance or tolerate antibiotic treatment, particularly those poorly known and/or newly proposed. Manuscripts dealing with the elucidation of crucial molecular interactions involved in essential processes for bacterial survival and proliferation, or with the development of systematic assays applicable in the quest for modulators of these interactions will also be very welcome. Submissions coming from researchers working on the development of new molecules or on the repurposing of already available compounds, reaching activity-improvement, are also expected. Articles addressing less explored approaches to fight bacterial infections, such as the use of combinations of synergic drugs, alternatives to drugs as proteins or peptides from different sources, or strategies to facilitate the access of drugs to their targets, will be also in line with the topic of this Special Issue. Original research articles, reviews, short communications or methodological reports and perspective, opinion, or commentary articles are most welcome.

Dr. Silvia Zorrilla
Dr. Valentina Straniero
Dr. Begoña Monterroso
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• molecular mechanisms of antibacterial resistance
• essential bacterial processes
• bacterial tolerance to antibiotics
• emerging antibiotic targets
• screening procedures
• antimicrobials
• target validation
• drug discovery
• drug repurposing
• medicinal chemistry