Next-Generation Antibiotic Strategies Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria
A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Pharmacology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2025 | Viewed by 677
Special Issue Editors
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; gram-negative pathogens; pharmacology; molecular biology
Interests: antimicrobial resistance; phage therapy; pharmacometrics; precision medicine; PK/PD; gram-negative bacteria
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The Special Issue “Next-Generation Antibiotic Strategies Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria” aims to highlight innovative approaches to combat the rising global threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This Issue will cover cutting-edge strategies including, but not limted to ,novel antibiotic development, repurposed therapeutics, synergistic combination regimens, and advanced drug delivery systems. Emphasis will also be placed on non-traditional approaches such as bacteriophage therapy, antimicrobial peptides, CRISPR-based antimicrobials, and anti-virulence strategies targeting bacterial persistence and biofilms. Additionally, the Issue welcomes studies on pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) optimization, transcriptomic and metabolomic insights into resistance mechanisms, and the role of machine learning and artificial intelligence in accelerating antibiotic discovery and resistance prediction. By bringing together multidisciplinary perspectives, this Issue aims to foster the development of effective, sustainable, and clinically relevant solutions to address the evolving challenges posed by multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) bacterial pathogens.
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains one of the greatest global threats to public health, complicating the treatment of bacterial infections and increasing morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. The rapid emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pan-drug-resistant (PDR) pathogens, coupled with the phenomena of heteroresistance and bacterial persistence, presents significant challenges in combating AMR. These persister cells, capable of surviving antibiotic treatment without genetic resistance, contribute to chronic infections and relapses, making effective eradication even more difficult. Despite advancements in drug discovery, the pipeline for novel antibiotics remains limited, necessitating innovative strategies to optimize existing treatments and develop next-generation therapeutics.
In response to these challenges, the journal Pharmaceuticals invites submissions for a Special Issue on “Next-Generation Antibiotic Strategies Against Drug-Resistant Bacteria”. This issue will focus on novel and repurposed antibiotics, synergistic combination therapies, antimicrobial adjuvants, pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) optimization, and non-traditional approaches such as bacteriophage therapy and anti-virulence strategies.
We welcome both original research and comprehensive reviews exploring innovative pharmaceutical solutions to address AMR. We look forward to your valuable contributions.
Dr. Jan Naseer Kaur
Dr. Nicholas Smith
Dr. Parikshit Padhi
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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. Pharmaceuticals 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.
Keywords
- persisters and AMR
- combination pharmacotherapy
- drug repurposing
- antibiotic adjuvants
- next-generation beta lactamase inhibitors
- small molecule inhibitors
- bacteriophage therapy
- peptides and CRISPR-based antimicrobials
- novel therapeutics
- heteroresistance
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