Targeted Antibacterial Strategies Against Pathogens in Fish and Farm Animals

Dear Colleagues,

The intensification of aquaculture and terrestrial livestock production over the past decades has brought tremendous gains in global food security; however, it has also escalated the emergence and spread of bacterial diseases. Traditional reliance on broad-spectrum antibiotics in fish and farm animals has contributed to the rise of antimicrobial‐resistant strains, posing serious threats to animal health, public safety, and ecosystem balance. In response, there is growing interest in precision antibacterial approaches that selectively target pathogenic bacteria while preserving beneficial microbiota and minimizing resistance pressure.

Targeted antibacterial strategies in aquaculture and livestock production have moved beyond broad-spectrum antibiotics toward precision interventions that spare beneficial microbes and curb resistance. Bacteriophage therapy deploys viruses to kill specific pathogens like Aeromonas hydrophila or E. coli without disturbing commensals. Antimicrobial peptides puncture bacterial membranes, offering broad-spectrum activity with minimal risk of resistance. Plant-derived antimicrobial extracts—such as essential oils, tannins, and flavonoids—synergize with antibiotics to boost efficacy and lower required doses. Antimicrobial and immunostimulant probiotics outcompete pathogens and enhance host innate and adaptive immunity. Anti-quorum-sensing materials (e.g., furanones or quorum-quenching enzymes) disrupt bacterial communication to prevent biofilm formation and virulence. Advanced delivery systems—liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles, and biodegradable hydrogels—ensure precise, controlled release at infection sites. Tailored vaccines, often combined with adjuvants or cytokine stimulants, induce robust, pathogen-specific immune responses in fish and livestock. CRISPR-Cas antimicrobials can be programmed to cleave resistance or virulence genes within bacterial populations. Together, these approaches form a sustainable, resistance-aware toolkit for safeguarding animal health and food safety.

The aim of this Special Issue is to bring together comprehensive research on fish pharmacokinetics, farm-animal pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, dosing regimen design, antibiotic adjuvants, and probiotics and to establish a multidisciplinary discussion group. By compiling and sharing this wide-ranging information, we seek to foster collaborative dialogue and accelerate innovation in targeted antimicrobial strategies across aquaculture and livestock production.

References:

1. Prestinaci F.; Pezzotti P.; Pantosti A. Antimicrobial resistance: A global multifaceted phenomenon. Pathog. Glob. Health 2015 109, 309–318
2. Birhanu BT, Lee E-B, Park S-C (2020) Evaluation of the pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic integration of marbofloxacin in combination with methyl gallate against Salmonella Typhimurium in rats. PLoS ONE 15(6): e0234211. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0234211.
3. Chae Hong Rhee, Seung-Chun Park, Moon Her and Wooseog Jeong. Surrogate Selection for Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Disinfectant Efficacy Tests by Simultaneous Comparison of Bacteriophage MS2 and Bovine Enterovirus Type 1. Viruses.: 22 November 2022, Viruses 2022, 14, 2590. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14122590.

Prof. Dr. Seung-Chun Park
Prof. Dr. Eon Bee Lee
Guest Editors

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• aquaculture and livestock pharmacokinetics
• precision antibacterial interventions
• antibiotic adjuvants and probiotics
• targeted drug delivery systems