Dear colleagues,

By eradicating or preventing bacterial growth, antibiotics are a class of medications used to treat bacterial illnesses.

The issue of antibiotic resistance is worsening; bacteria develop defenses against antibiotics, which leads to antibiotic resistance. This may occur when antibiotics are abused or overused, which enables bacteria to evolve resistance. Infections that are resistant to antibiotics can be tricky to treat and occasionally even lethal.

The microbiome is a group of bacteria that reside in and on the human body and contributes to antibiotic resistance. Antibiotics have the potential to upset the microbiome's delicate equilibrium, which may result in the emergence of bacteria that are resistant to them. Research is ongoing to understand how the microbiome can be protected during antibiotic treatment.

Combination therapy may be more effective: For some infections, combining several antibiotics or combining antibiotics with other medications may be more beneficial. For instance, according to some research, combining antibiotics with immune system boosters can enhance the effectiveness of treatment.

Antibiotics may cause unwanted side effects, including diarrhea, allergic reactions, liver or renal damage, and others. However, some studies imply that the long-term consequences of antibiotic use on the microbiota may contribute to diseases such as obesity and autoimmune disorders. New antibiotics are needed; the development of new antibiotics has slowed in recent years, causing it to be more difficult to treat antibiotic-resistant infections. Research is ongoing to develop new antibiotics and alternative treatments for bacterial infections.

Overall, despite the fact that antibiotics have been a vital weapon in the struggle against bacterial illnesses, more research and development are required to address the problems caused by antibiotic resistance and to enhance the effectiveness of current therapies.

The scope of the Special Issue is as follows but is not limited to:

• Antibacterial activity of natural products;
• Synthetic antibacterial agents;
• Antibacterial resistance;
• Combinatorial therapy in infections;
• Side effects of antimicrobials;
• The role of microbiome in antimicrobial resistance;
• Quorum-sensing mechanisms;
• Molecular targets of novel antimicrobials.

Prof. Dr. Jasmina Glamočlija
Dr. Ana Ćirić
Guest Editors

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