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Editorial
- Source: Anti-Infective Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (Formerly Current Medicinal Chemistry - Anti-Infective Agents), Volume 6, Issue 1, Jan 2007, p. 1 - 1
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- 01 Jan 2007
Abstract
We first would like to thank our new Advisory Board Members for their efforts in supporting the review of manuscripts. This aspect is much appreciated. The field of research on anti-infective agents and new targets has shown strong progress on many fronts targeted towards antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral agents. Most notably are the advances in the discovery and clinical development of inhibitors of hepatitis C virus. NS5B polymerase inhibitors in the nucleoside and non-nucleoside classes, such as NM283, R1626 and HCV-796 have continued to advance to Phase II clinical trials. The HCV NS3- 4A serine protease as an attractive target led to inhibitors such as VX-950 and SCH-503034 for clinical development. Immunomodulators such as Albuferon, Locteron, CPG10101 and ANA-975 are the likely a components of the combination region, with the latter two being Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists. An interesting trend for the discovery of new antibacterial agents continues to be based on genomics and bioinformatics approaches. A relatively large number of novel essential targets have been proposed. Genomic approaches, coupled with biochemical studies, are also useful in understanding modes of action of antibacterial agents. Invasive fungal infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients, are limiting our arsenal of antifungal agents and remains a problem of unmet medical need. New agents are clearly needed to compliment current strategies and advances in this area. Dr. Mark L. Nelson served as a Guest Editor on “Chemical Evolution of Natural Products Antibiotics,” Vol. 5, Number 3. This journal issue covered three invited reviews that addressed the growing area of antibiotics evolution. We express our thanks to all contributions in this issue. Twenty-six excellent review articles were published in four issues of Volume 5. These reviews span all three major areas of anti-infectives research: antivirals, antibacterials and antifungals. The emphasis of the journal is on the medicinal chemistry aspect of anti-infectives and promising agents. We encourage submission of reviews on comparative structure activity relationship analyses, technologies in inhibiting certain targets, mechanistic studies, synthesis and biological properties of new agents and validation of new targets of potential therapeutic intervention, as well as pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic relationships. Contributors to Volume 5, Number 1: I.E.J.A. Francois, B.P.A. Cammue, M. Borgers, J. Ausma, G.D. Dispersyn, K. Thevissen, J. Fotie, D.S. Bohle, A.M. Carmona-Ribeiro, D.B. Vieira, N. Lincopan, J.N. Ablin, P. Cravo, R. Culleton, A. Afonso, I.D. Ferreira, V.E. do Rosario, Sk. Md. F. Akbar, H. Murakami, N. Horiike, M. Onji, R. Dolcetti, D. Di Luca, A.R. de Lera, A.A. Joshi and C.L. Viswanathan. Volume 5, Number 2: S.M. Jachak, R. Jain, S. Batra, Z. Tusi , S. Madapa, A.J. Kesel, P.M.M. Guedes, J.L.R. Fietto, M. Lana, M.T. Bahia, T. Rezanka, M. Sobotka, J. Spizek and K. Sigler. Volume 5, Number 3: J. Grunewald, C. Mahlert, F. Kopp, M.A. Marahiel, S.T.D. Hsu, E. Breukink, R. Kaptein, J. Li, C.W.T. Chang, A. Igoudjil, K. Begriche, D. Pessayre, B. Fromenty, A.S. Galabov, A. Angelova, F.M.E. Wagenlehner and K.G. Naber. Volume 5, Number 4: J. Liu, H.P. Ren, L.M. Schang, J. Fotie, J. Yuan, T. Lim, Z. Liu, D. Qiu, B. Wong, H. Luo, X.S.B. McManus, D. Yang, C.S. Coffin, S.S. Lee, D. Kerboeuf, M. Riou, J.S. Hamdan and R.C. Hahn. The list to credit for all these achievements is long. We thank the referees for their time and effort in reviewing the articles. The hard working and enthusiastic team of the journal, particularly Ms. Afshan Siddiq, is greatly acknowledged. We also thank Ms. Michele Markey of Wyeth Research for her support.