New Frontiers in Infectious Disease Research: Small-Molecule Probes and Biomarker Identification

Introduction

The biological relevance of small-molecule chemical probes targeting a disease model is crucial in the early stages of drug discovery. The integration of omics technologies such as genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, immunomic, and cellular levels has greatly enhanced the ability to identify novel biomarkers and understand the complex interactions between pathogens and their hosts. However, due to rapid advancements in omics technologies, the criteria for selectivity, biochemical and cellular activities for molecular probes are constantly evolving and need to meet required standards. Despite the availability of numerous compound collections for research, the level of characterization varies, and there are still many targets for which the appropriate small-molecule probe is lacking, especially in infectious diseases. Additionally, the lack of relevant predictive microbiota biomarkers and cellular or animal models of human diseases in viral and bacterial infections, which can be translated to preclinical or clinical studies, remains a challenge. These factors are likely to further transform the validation of potential drug target candidates for the development of anti-infectious disease therapies. This research thematic issue covers a broad spectrum of research interests that take a comprehensive approach to addressing current critical needs in this field such as, but not limited to, identifying new drug targets at multiple scales with the potential of developing small molecules and microbiota biomarkers to facilitate the development of new anti-infective agents.

Keywords

Small molecules, genomic, metabolomics, microbiota biomarkers, bioactive metabolites, Pharmacomicrobiomics, infectious diseases

Sub-topics

Ø  Development of new small molecule inhibitors that target viral polymerases.

Ø  Identification of drugs that reveal novel mechanisms in drug-resistant pathogens like tuberculosis, malaria, and various bacterial infections.

Ø  Creation of new chemical entities to improve the effectiveness of drugs for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

Ø  Exploration, discovery and characterisation of new mechanisms that small molecules interact with viral proteins, leading to the development of new antiviral drugs for viruses such as SARS-COV2 and Influenza.

Ø  Understanding and identifying microbiota biomarkers as promising targets and the primary mechanisms involved in drug-microbiota interactions.

Ø  Characterization and profiling of the human genome heterogeneity and drug responses in pharmacomicrobiomics.

Ø  Strategies and utilization of high-throughput screening, structure-based drug design, and artificial intelligence to identify and optimize new antiviral compounds.

Ø  Novel bioactive metabolites for the treatment of infectious diseases.

Ø  Current holistic approaches to disease surveillance and public health policies related to infectious diseases.