Applied Microbiology

Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance

Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance (AAR) will cover a range of important topics. One of the major challenges today is the rising tide of antimicrobial resistance, with the emergence of "untreatable" microbes causing diseases that were once readily treatable.  Antimicrobial agents, including antibiotics, antivirals, antifungals, and antiparasitics, are critical tools in modern medicine used to treat infections caused by various pathogens. These agents work by targeting specific processes or structures essential for the survival and replication of the microorganisms. For example, antibiotics such as penicillin inhibit cell wall synthesis in bacteria, while antiviral drugs like oseltamivir block viral replication. The development and widespread use of these agents have significantly reduced mortality and morbidity associated with infectious diseases, transforming healthcare and extending human life expectancy,However, the overuse and misuse of antimicrobial agents have led to the alarming rise of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Pathogens evolve mechanisms to survive exposure to these drugs, rendering them ineffective. This resistance can occur through various mechanisms, such as the production of enzymes that degrade the drug, alterations in the drug's target site, or increased efflux of the drug from the cell. AMR poses a significant global health threat, complicating the treatment of common infections and increasing the risk of disease spread, severe illness, and death. Addressing AMR requires a multifaceted approach, including the development of new antimicrobial agents, better stewardship of existing drugs, and global cooperation to implement effective policies and practices to mitigate the spread of resistance. 

Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance includes

• Surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance: Molecular Typing, Clinical and Molecular Epidemiology
• Antimicrobial Agents: Mechanisms of Action and Mechanisms of Resistance
• Antifungal Agents and Resistance
• Antimicrobial Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics and General Pharmacology
• Antimicrobial Stewardship, including Quality of Care
• Antiviral Agents (including HIV Drugs) and Resistance
• Experimental Therapeutics
• New Antimicrobial Agents (Pre-US IND or Prior to the Start of Clinical Therapeutic Studies/pre-Phase 2) and New Research Technologies
• Pharmacological Studies of Antimicrobial Agents Pre-NDA (Phase 2/3)