New Frontiers in Antimicrobial Discovery: Natural Products, Synthetic Molecules, Drug Repurposing

TOPICAL COLLECTIONS

Guest Editor

Carlos Henrique Gomes Martins

Federal University of Uberlândia

At the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Brazil, Carlos Henrique Gomes Martins serves as a full professor and coordinates the Laboratory of Antimicrobial Assays (LEA/UFU). His academic and scientific work is dedicated to advancing antimicrobial discovery by evaluating natural products, synthetic compounds, and semi-synthetic derivatives. With a strong background in microbiology, clinical analysis, and antimicrobial pharmacology, his research integrates microbiological, pharmacological, and translational approaches to identify bioactive compounds with potential applications against clinically relevant and multidrug-resistant microorganisms. His interests include antibacterial, antifungal, antimycobacterial, antiparasitic, and antibiofilm activities, as well as toxicity assessment, alternative experimental models, and combination strategies with conventional antimicrobials. He also contributes to graduate education and researcher training in immunology and applied parasitology at UFU.

Collection Overview

This proposed collection will focus on the discovery, characterization, and translational evaluation of antimicrobial agents derived from natural products, synthetic compounds, semi-synthetic derivatives, and drug repurposing strategies. The collection aims to bring together original research articles, reviews, methodological advances, and applied studies addressing antibacterial, antifungal, antimycobacterial, antiparasitic, and antibiofilm activities against clinically relevant, multidrug-resistant, oral, veterinary, environmental, foodborne, and phytopathogenic microorganisms.

Contributions may include studies on plant extracts, essential oils, propolis, isolated natural compounds, synthetic molecules, peptides, nanostructured systems, and repositioned drugs. Topics of interest include antimicrobial screening, combinations with conventional antimicrobials, mechanisms of action, structure–activity relationships, cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, alternative in vivo models, and safety assessment.

By integrating microbiological, pharmacological, biotechnological, and translational perspectives, this collection seeks to highlight innovative strategies for combating antimicrobial resistance and advancing the development of safer and more effective antimicrobial agents from diverse natural and synthetic sources.