Challenges of Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria and Drug Development of Antibacterials
A special issue of Pathogens (ISSN 2076-0817).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 March 2026 | Viewed by 13
Special Issue Editor
Interests: antimicrobial peptides; microbial resistance; plant antimicrobial peptides; proteomics; peptidomics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria represents one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time, threatening to undermine modern medicine and public health. This Special Issue focuses on the complex interplay between bacterial resistance mechanisms and the development of novel antibacterial strategies. We invite high-quality, original research articles and reviews that address the molecular basis of resistance, including horizontal gene transfer, efflux pumps, and target-site modifications, as well as innovative approaches to combat MDR pathogens.
We particularly welcome studies that explore the following topics: (i) the discovery and characterization of new antimicrobial compounds, including natural products, synthetic molecules, and repurposed drugs; (ii) alternative therapeutic strategies, such as phage therapy, antimicrobial peptides, and CRISPR-based technologies; (iii) the role of biofilms and persister cells in chronic infections; and (iv) the impact of environmental and clinical factors on the evolution of resistance. Submissions may cover a broad range of bacterial pathogens; emphasis will be placed on ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) and other clinically relevant MDR strains.
By bringing together cutting-edge research on resistance mechanisms and drug development, this Special Issue aims to contribute to the global effort to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and safeguard the future of infectious disease treatment.
Dr. Elizabete de Souza Cândido
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 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
- antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
- multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria
- novel antibiotics
- resistance mechanisms
- alternative therapies
- ESKAPE pathogens
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