Emerging Microbes & Infections

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) stands as one of the most pressing global health challenges of our time, marking a critical threat to modern medicine and healthcare systems worldwide. As bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites evolve and adapt, they develop resistance to the drugs and treatments meant to eradicate them. This phenomenon has propelled us into an era where common infections and minor injuries can become life-threatening, complicating medical procedures and rendering previously effective treatments obsolete. The emergence of resistant strains compromises our ability to control infectious diseases, creating a dire need for innovative strategies and collaborative efforts to combat this escalating crisis.

The significance of addressing antimicrobial resistance cannot be overstated. With the rise of resistant pathogens, routine medical procedures such as surgeries, organ transplants, and cancer treatments become increasingly perilous. Beyond the immediate threat to human health, AMR poses a substantial economic burden, as the costs associated with prolonged illnesses, extended hospital stays, and the development of new drugs escalate. Furthermore, the issue transcends national boundaries, demanding a concerted global response. Without prompt action, we risk reverting to a pre-antibiotic era where even minor infections could prove fatal, undermining decades of medical advancements.

This collection aims to offer a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance while spotlighting innovative solutions and collaborative approaches necessary to overcome this global health crisis. This collection includes, but is not limited to, papers on:

1. Epidemiology of Antimicrobial Resistance: Understanding the global landscape of resistant pathogens, their prevalence, and the impact on public health systems worldwide.
2. Mechanisms of Resistance Development: Delving into the biological mechanisms through which microbes evolve and develop resistance to antibiotics and other antimicrobial treatments.
3. Human Behavior and Antimicrobial Misuse: Exploring the role of human behavior, misuse of antibiotics in healthcare, agriculture, and livestock, and the implications for the acceleration of AMR.
4. Innovations in Diagnostics: Highlighting breakthroughs in rapid and accurate diagnostic tools to identify resistant strains and guide appropriate treatment decisions.
5. Alternative Therapies and Treatments: Investigating novel approaches such as phage therapy, immunotherapies, and combination therapies to combat resistant infections.
6. Regulatory and Policy Frameworks: Examining the current regulatory landscape and policy measures at the national and international levels aimed at curbing antimicrobial resistance.
7. Global Collaborations and Initiatives: Showcasing successful collaborative efforts between governments, healthcare sectors, academia, and industry in tackling AMR globally.
8. Public Awareness and Education: Discussing the importance of raising public awareness, education campaigns, and behavioral changes to mitigate the misuse of antimicrobials.
9. New antimicrobial development: Reviewing current new antimicrobial development activities responding to the global increasing antibiotic resistance.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, resistance mechanisms, human behavior, diagnostic innovations, therapies

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Guest Advisors: 

Yi-Wei Tang, M.D., M.Sc., Ph.D. currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer at Danaher Corporation/Cepheid, China and holds an editorial board membership for the journal. Prior to this role, he served as the Chief of the Clinical Microbiology Service at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a Professor of Laboratory Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, USA. Recognized as a leading scientist in clinical microbiology, Dr. Tang has been elected as an Editor for the Journal of Clinical Microbiology and holds Fellowships with the American Academy for Microbiology and the Infectious Disease Society of America. With a specialized focus on laboratory management, he brings expertise in infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, hepatitis, respiratory viral infections, and sepsis. Dr. Tang's proficiency encompasses fundamental laboratory operations in chemistry, immunoassay, hematology, and pathology. In his current capacity, he collaborates actively with Research and Development and Core Teams, providing valuable lab-based insights across various stages of assay development. Renowned for his commitment to quality, Dr. Tang engages in regulatory document preparation, authors company-based articles, white papers, and newsletters. Additionally, he supports external investigators in study design and publication activities, underscoring his dedication to advancing healthcare research and diagnostics in infectious diseases.

Gregory J. Berry, Ph.D. is currently an Associate Professor of Pathology and Cell Biology at Columbia University. Board-certified by the American Board of Medical Microbiology, he earned his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. He completed a fellowship in Medical and Public Health Microbiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch. In his current roles at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, he serves as Co-Director of the Clinical Microbiology Service and Co-Director of the Center for Advanced Laboratory Medicine (CALM) at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Previously, he held positions as an Assistant Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell and as the Director of the Division of Infectious Disease Diagnostics at Northwell Health. Dr. Berry's expertise lies in the application of infectious disease testing for clinical diagnosis and patient management. His research interests encompass optimizing existing methodologies and developing new technologies for patient-centered clinical testing. For more detailed information, please refer to this link: Gregory J. Berry, PhD, D(ABMM) | Pathology (columbia.edu)

Stephen M. Brecher, Ph.D. holds the position of Associate Professor of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine and serves as the Consultant of the Microbiology Laboratories at the Boston VA Healthcare System. Renowned for his expertise in microbiology, Dr. Brecher is an accomplished speaker on topics such as C. difficile infections and antibiotic resistance. He has received recognition as an American Society of Microbiology (ASM) Foundation Speaker. For more detailed information, please refer to this link: Stephen Brecher | Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine (bu.edu)

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All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisor for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is October 31st, 2024.

Please contact Commissioning Editor Ruby Ru at [email protected] with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

To submit your papers to this Article Collection, please:

1. Check "yes" for the question, "Are you submitting your paper for a specific special issue or article collection?"
2. Select the relevant Article Collection from the drop-down menu under the question, "Special Issue or Article Collection Name."

Instructions for AuthorsSubmit an Article