Compounding the problem of antimicrobial resistance is the immediate threat of a reduction in the discovery and development of new antibiotics, the dangers of which have recently been made clear by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other European institutions. Consequently, a perfect storm is converging with regard to bacterial infections: increasing antimicrobial resistance with a decreased new antibiotic development.
This context is likely the best example of the purported “Post-Antibiotic Era”. It is clear that effective solutions are urgently needed as stressed by various institutions. New policies and actions are necessary to avoid the figures predicted for 2050 that attribute ten million deaths worldwide to antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, the development of non-traditional therapeutic strategies such as repurposed drugs, immunomodulators, phages and antivirulence therapeutics for use alone or together with clinically relevant antibiotics has become exigent.
In this environment, antivirulence therapeutics drugs have received considerable attention that specifically target bacterial virulence factors rather than growth. Despite this interest, only few antivirulence drugs are in clinical development.
The goal of this Research Topic is to systematically provide an overview on the scientific evidence on potential antivirulence drugs targeting Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
In specific, we aim to
i) Discuss the therapeutic potential of this drug class
ii) Identify their potential targets
iii) Summarize the outcome of their preclinical and clinical trials for treating MDR bacterial infections.
We welcome researchers to submit reviews, opinions, or original research focusing on antivirulence drugs treatment against bacteria.
Compounding the problem of antimicrobial resistance is the immediate threat of a reduction in the discovery and development of new antibiotics, the dangers of which have recently been made clear by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other European institutions. Consequently, a perfect storm is converging with regard to bacterial infections: increasing antimicrobial resistance with a decreased new antibiotic development.
This context is likely the best example of the purported “Post-Antibiotic Era”. It is clear that effective solutions are urgently needed as stressed by various institutions. New policies and actions are necessary to avoid the figures predicted for 2050 that attribute ten million deaths worldwide to antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, the development of non-traditional therapeutic strategies such as repurposed drugs, immunomodulators, phages and antivirulence therapeutics for use alone or together with clinically relevant antibiotics has become exigent.
In this environment, antivirulence therapeutics drugs have received considerable attention that specifically target bacterial virulence factors rather than growth. Despite this interest, only few antivirulence drugs are in clinical development.
The goal of this Research Topic is to systematically provide an overview on the scientific evidence on potential antivirulence drugs targeting Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
In specific, we aim to
i) Discuss the therapeutic potential of this drug class
ii) Identify their potential targets
iii) Summarize the outcome of their preclinical and clinical trials for treating MDR bacterial infections.
We welcome researchers to submit reviews, opinions, or original research focusing on antivirulence drugs treatment against bacteria.
