Mechanism and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance
A section of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382).
Section Information
Because of the continued process of evolution and natural selection with antimicrobials, bacterial pathogens are gaining the edge over human ingenuity and our collective ability to produce new antimicrobials and utilize existing antimicrobials wisely. While mechanisms of bacterial antibiotic resistance vary in their mechanics and genetic underpinnings, all mechanisms of resistance essentially disallow antimicrobials from reaching their specific target or targets. Over the past 80 years, scientists from around the world have identified numerous mutations and genes that mediate antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The ability of antibiotics to select for bacterial mutants has revealed the degree to which mutations in bacterial genomes can alter metabolic functions and yet still support resistance expression. In addition to becoming resistant to antibiotics given systemically to patients to cure serious bacterial infections, bacterial pathogens can also demonstrate reduced susceptibility or tolerance to “multitargeting” antimicrobials such as disinfectants, antiseptics, and biocides (e.g., alcohols, essential oils, triclosan). If fact, all bacteria demonstrate a level of susceptibility to numerous antimicrobials, and certain bacterial pathogens can express “intrinsic resistance” to certain antimicrobials, which can be supported solely by their own evolved genome complement (e.g., genes encoding the outer membrane, toxin–antitoxin systems, or multidrug efflux pumps). In fact, it is now known that many intrinsic gene products are required for clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance mutations or genes to function. New knowledge on how bacteria become resistant or demonstrate reduced susceptibility to antimicrobials allows researchers to identify targets for the development of new antimicrobials.
The Section “Mechanism and Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance” seeks any and all manuscripts that describe intrinsic and horizontally transmitted genes, mutations, and mechanisms that bacteria evolve and/or utilize to remain viable during and following clinical or laboratory antimicrobial challenges. These mechanisms include the contributions of genes and mutations that support persistence, tolerance, biofilm production, and reduced susceptibility. Since we are now deep into the “omics” era, manuscripts with data from omics “fishing trips” that describe the bacterial response to antimicrobials are also sought after. Authors are also encouraged to submit molecular epidemiology projects that follow the evolution of existing antimicrobial-resistant determinants of all varieties or that contribute to our knowledge of antimicrobial resistance gene reservoirs.
Editorial Board
Special Issues
Following special issues within this section are currently open for submissions:
- Antibiotics Resistance and Molecular Epidemiology of Carbapenem-Resistance Bacteria (Deadline: 30 September 2023)
- Emerging Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Resistance and Strategies to Combat Them (Deadline: 30 September 2023)
- The Emergence of Multidrug Resistance: Genetic Mechanisms, Fitness Cost, and Dissemination in the Human-Environment Continuum (Deadline: 30 September 2023)
- Genomic Analysis of Antibiotics Resistance in Pathogens, 2nd Edition (Deadline: 30 September 2023)
- Epidemiology and Characterization of Bacteria Isolated from Hospital (Deadline: 31 October 2023)
- Feature Review Papers on β-Lactam and β-Lactam-β-Lactamase Inhibitor Combinations and Resistance Mechanisms to β-Lactam and β-Lactam-β-Lactamase Inhibitor Combinations (Deadline: 31 October 2023)
- Microbial Resistance to Carbapenems: Epidemiology, Detection and Treatment Options (Deadline: 31 October 2023)
- Molecular Detection, Characterization, Antimicrobial Resistance and Genomic Epidemiology of Pathogenic Bacteria (Deadline: 31 October 2023)
- The Evolution of Plasmid-Mediated Antimicrobial Resistance (Deadline: 30 November 2023)
- Insights into Antibiotics in Human, Animal, and Agriculture: Resistance, Determinant, and Treatment (Deadline: 30 November 2023)
- Epidemiology, Virulence Factors and Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus (Deadline: 30 November 2023)
- Molecular Characterization of Gram-Negative Bacteria: Antimicrobial Resistance, Virulence and Epidemiology (Deadline: 30 November 2023)
- Staphylococcus— Molecular Pathogenesis, Virulence Regulation and Antibiotics Resistance (Deadline: 30 November 2023)
- Streptococcus: Biology, Pathogenesis, Epidemiology and Evolution (Deadline: 30 November 2023)
- The Molecular Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance of MRSA (Deadline: 1 December 2023)
- Molecular Evolution and Pathogenicity of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (Deadline: 31 December 2023)
- Epidemiology of Clinically Relevant Bacteria and Antimicrobial Resistance (Deadline: 31 December 2023)
- The Hidden Pandemic: Tackling Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms and Evolution in ESKAPE Pathogens (Deadline: 31 December 2023)
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Environmental Health (Deadline: 31 December 2023)
- Antimicrobial Resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae as a Paradigm of Respiratory Pathogen: What Is Next? (Deadline: 31 December 2023)
- Advances in Plasmid Mediated Antimicrobial Resistance (Deadline: 31 January 2024)
- Antibiotic Resistance and Coping Strategies of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Species (Deadline: 15 February 2024)
- Molecular Epidemiology, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Virulence Genes in Drug-Resistant Bacteria (Deadline: 29 February 2024)
- Mechanism of Carbapenem Resistance in Enterobacteriaceae, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Deadline: 29 February 2024)
- Research of Antimicrobial Resistance in the Food Chain (Deadline: 29 February 2024)
- Plasmid-Borne Antibiotic Resistance Genes (Deadline: 29 February 2024)
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Therapy of Clinically Relevant Bacteria (Deadline: 29 February 2024)
- Antimicrobial Resistance Genes: Spread and Evolution (Deadline: 29 February 2024)
- Mechanisms of Resistance to Antibacterial Agents in Staphylococcus and Enterococcus (Deadline: 15 March 2024)
- Genomic Insights into Antimicrobial Resistance in Enterobacterales, Pseudomonas, and Acinetobacter (Deadline: 30 June 2024)