Preface

The 7^th volume of Frontiers in Clinical Drug Research – Anti Infectives comprises five chapters that cover a variety of topics including antivirals, treatments against some gram negative and gram negative bacteria, and an overview on a few antiprotozoal drugs that target specific pathogens.

In chapter 1, Evran et al., focus on aptamers with antiviral activity, as well as the use of aptamers in viral detection platforms. They also give an overview of aptamers developed against viruses, and discuss the major hurdles in aptamer use, as well as the strategies to improve the drug potential of aptamers.

In chapter 2, Leowattana et al. discuss host-directed, antibiotic-adjuvant combinations and antibiotic-antibiotic combination for treating Multidrug-Resistant (MDR) gram- negative pathogens (Acinetobacter, Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas,etc.).

In chapter 3, Barbosa and Teixeira explore the current therapeutic approaches and advances in the search for alternative solutions to inhibit the opportunistic pathogen C. difficile.

Rivera-Fernández et al. in chapter 4 of the book, review the in vitro and in vivo activities of extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds obtained from different plants against Toxoplasma gondii, the pathogen that causes toxoplasmosis. This chapter presents information on potential leads for novel therapeutic agents for this disease.

In the last chapter of the book by Percário et al., the author describe the main Amazonian species used to treat malaria and leishmaniasis in Brazilian folk medicine, relating ethnobotanical results to chemical studies, evaluation of activities, and toxicity. Several promising compounds of plants used in traditional Amazonian medicine are described

I would like to thank all the authors for their excellent contributions that will be of great interest. Also, I would like to thank the editorial staff of Bentham Science Publishers, particularly Mr. Mahmood Alam (Editorial Director) of Bentham Science Publishers, Mr. Obaid Sadiq (In-charge Books Department) and Miss Asma Ahmed (Senior Manager Publications) for their support.