Proteins or Peptides as Effective Weapons in Antimicrobial and Cancer Therapy
A special issue of Future Pharmacology (ISSN 2673-9879).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 285
Special Issue Editors
2. Department of Research, Pediatric Hospital of Sinaloa, Secretary of Health, Culiacan 80246, Mexico
Interests: proteins and peptides with antimicrobial and antitumor properties; cell biology; microbiology; infectious diseases; vaccines
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Interests: proteases; lactoferrin; outer membrane vesicles; biofilm; bacterial virulence factors; infectious diseases; inflammation; morphopathology; inmunobiology; cancer
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Proteins and peptides have emerged as powerful therapeutic agents in the fight against infectious diseases and cancer. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), derived from various proteins, exhibit broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. These peptides function by disrupting microbial membranes, inhibiting key enzymes, and modulating immune responses. In addition to their antimicrobial properties, certain peptides are gaining attention for their potential in cancer therapy. They can inhibit tumour growth, induce apoptosis, and modulate the tumour microenvironment. Proteins such as lactoferrin, defensins, and cathelicidins, along with synthetic and engineered peptides, are being explored for their dual role in combating infections and cancer. Notably, lactoferrin has demonstrated both antimicrobial effects and anticancer potential, making it a promising candidate for future therapeutic development.
This Special Issue invites research exploring the mechanisms behind proteins’ or peptides’ antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and antiparasitic actions, as well as their ability to synergize with existing antimicrobial treatments. Additionally, this Special Issue highlights the emerging role of proteins or peptides in cancer therapy, where their anticancer properties—such as tumour growth inhibition, immune modulation, and apoptosis induction—are being actively explored. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of pharmacological applications by bridging the fields of antimicrobial therapy and cancer treatment. It offers new insights into its dual therapeutic roles and prospects in clinical settings. Original papers and review articles on these and related topics are welcome.
Prof. Dr. Nidia M. León-Sicairos
Dr. Gerardo Ramírez-Rico
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Future Pharmacology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1000 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- proteins
- peptides
- lactoferrin
- iron
- cancer
- antimicrobial
- antiviral
- antifungal
- antiparasitic
- inflammation
- metastasis
- virulence factors
- outer membrane proteins
- infectious disease
- receptors/ligands
- antimicrobial proteins
- antimicrobial peptides
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.
