Preface

The 5th volume of Frontiers in Clinical Drug Research – Anti Infectives comprises six chapters that cover a variety of topics including prolonging antibiotic life, biofilms in medical devices and various antiviral drugs.

In chapter 1, Kurtböke et al. present an overview of new bioactive compound and marine actinomycetes that might be further exploited for their potential as novel and potent drug candidates. In chapter 2, Zárate-Bladés et al. have reviewed the developments in the field of pathogenesis of Clostridium difficile infections and clinical and experimental studies on the therapeutic effects of gut microbial transportation (GMT) against recurrent C. difficile infections (CDI). The methodology of gut microbial transportation (GMT) and applications in the context of the mechanisms of microbiota effects on the immune system are also discussed.

Chapter 3 by Filazi & Yurdakok-Dikmen presents an insight into antimicrobials, particularly against direct-food microbes, as well as other alternative products such as plant-derived compounds, bacteriophage and phage lysins, and antimicrobial peptides. They also discuss novel approaches applicable in the field. In chapter 4, Ahmad et al. explain the current status of different nanoantibiotic (nAbts) loaded systems, their release mechanisms, key targets, formulations and modes of action. Important features of nanoantibiotics (nAbts) such as size, surface charge, hydrophobicity/philicity, biofilm formation, stimuli-receptive and functionalization against multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens are also described.

In chapter 5, Monroy-Torres & Medina-Jiménez present primary objectives of cranberry and other functional foods in urinary tract infections in women. Chapter 6 by Hameed & Fatima discusses insights into the association of Magnesium (Mg2+) in survival of Myobacterium Tuberculosis (Mtb) and how it can be exploited as an anti-mycobacterial drug target.

I would like to thanks all the authors for their excellent contributions that will be of great interest. I would also like to thank the editorial staff of Bentham Science Publishers, particularly Mr. Zain Rehman, Mr. Shehzad Naqvi and Mr. Mahmood Alam for their support.