Aims & Scope
International Journal of Chemotherapy Research and Practice (IJCP) publishes rigorous research on antimicrobial chemotherapy, focusing on the molecular mechanisms, pharmacology, and microbiological aspects of antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiparasitic agents. We advance the scientific understanding of how chemotherapeutic compounds interact with microbial pathogens, resistance mechanisms, and drug development strategies.
Antimicrobial Resistance
Drug-Pathogen Interactions
Pharmacokinetics
Mechanism of Action
Drug Discovery
⚠ Scope Boundary: We do NOT consider clinical patient management, treatment protocols, or clinical outcomes research. Our focus is on the fundamental science of antimicrobial agents and their interactions with microorganisms.
Core Research Domains
1 Antimicrobial Drug Development
- Discovery and characterization of novel antimicrobial compounds
- Structure-activity relationships (SAR) of chemotherapeutic agents
- Drug formulation and delivery systems for antimicrobials
- Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antimicrobial agents
- In vitro and in vivo efficacy testing of new compounds
- Optimization of drug properties for enhanced antimicrobial activity
Typical Fit:
"Synthesis and antimicrobial evaluation of novel beta-lactam derivatives: structure-activity relationships and mechanism of action against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus"
2 Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Action
- Molecular targets of antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral agents
- Cellular pathways disrupted by chemotherapeutic compounds
- Drug-pathogen interaction studies at molecular level
- Membrane disruption and cell wall synthesis inhibition
- Protein synthesis inhibition mechanisms
- DNA/RNA synthesis interference by antimicrobial agents
Typical Fit:
"Elucidating the mechanism of action of a novel antifungal compound through transcriptomic analysis of Candida albicans: identification of ergosterol biosynthesis pathway disruption"
3 Antimicrobial Resistance Mechanisms
- Genetic basis of drug resistance in bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites
- Enzymatic inactivation of antimicrobial agents
- Efflux pump mechanisms and their role in multidrug resistance
- Target site modifications conferring resistance
- Horizontal gene transfer of resistance determinants
- Biofilm formation and its impact on antimicrobial efficacy
Typical Fit:
"Characterization of novel carbapenemase variants in Enterobacteriaceae: molecular mechanisms and implications for antimicrobial stewardship strategies"
4 Drug Interactions & Combination Strategies
- Synergistic and antagonistic interactions between antimicrobial agents
- Combination therapy approaches to overcome resistance
- Drug-drug interactions affecting antimicrobial efficacy
- Pharmacological interactions in polymicrobial infections
- Adjuvant compounds enhancing antimicrobial activity
- Molecular basis of combination therapy effectiveness
Typical Fit:
"Synergistic activity of beta-lactam and aminoglycoside combinations against Pseudomonas aeruginosa: mechanistic insights from proteomic analysis"
Secondary Focus Areas
Antimicrobial Pharmacology
- Absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) of antimicrobials
- Tissue penetration and drug concentration at infection sites
- Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) modeling
- Drug metabolism by microbial enzymes
Microbial Pathogenesis
- Virulence factors as chemotherapeutic targets
- Host-pathogen interactions relevant to drug action
- Microbial adaptation to antimicrobial pressure
- Quorum sensing and its role in drug resistance
Drug Delivery Systems
- Nanoparticle-based antimicrobial delivery
- Liposomal formulations for enhanced efficacy
- Targeted delivery to infection sites
- Controlled-release antimicrobial systems
Diagnostic Biomarkers
- Molecular markers for drug susceptibility testing
- Biomarkers predicting antimicrobial response
- Rapid detection methods for resistance genes
- Metabolomic signatures of drug action
Computational Approaches
- In silico drug design and screening
- Molecular docking studies of antimicrobial compounds
- Machine learning for resistance prediction
- Systems biology approaches to drug action
Antimicrobial Toxicology
- Mechanisms of drug-induced toxicity in host cells
- Selective toxicity and therapeutic index optimization
- Mitochondrial toxicity of antimicrobial agents
- Genotoxicity and mutagenicity assessment
Out of Scope
- Clinical Patient Management & Treatment Protocols Rationale: Our focus is on fundamental antimicrobial science, not clinical practice guidelines or patient care strategies
- Clinical Outcomes Research & Epidemiological Studies Rationale: We publish mechanistic research on antimicrobial agents, not clinical effectiveness or population health outcomes
- Cancer Chemotherapy (Antineoplastic Agents) Rationale: Despite the term "chemotherapy," our scope is strictly antimicrobial agents, not anticancer drugs
- Clinical Prescribing Practices & Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs Rationale: We focus on the science of antimicrobial agents, not healthcare delivery or prescribing behavior
- Case Reports & Clinical Case Series Rationale: Individual patient cases do not advance fundamental understanding of antimicrobial mechanisms or drug development
Article Types & Priorities
Priority 1 - Fast Track
Expedited Review
Original Research Articles
Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analyses
Methods & Protocols
Drug Discovery Reports
Priority 2 - Standard
Regular Review Timeline
Short Communications
Data Notes
Technical Notes
Perspectives & Commentaries
Review Articles
Rarely Considered
Limited Acceptance
Opinion Pieces (by invitation only)
Letters to the Editor
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
All manuscripts must adhere to appropriate reporting standards:
- ARRIVE guidelines for animal studies
- CONSORT for randomized trials (if applicable)
- PRISMA for systematic reviews
- STROBE for observational studies
- MIAME for microarray experiments
Data Availability
We require open access to research data:
- Raw data deposited in public repositories
- Sequence data in GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ
- Structural data in PDB
- Data availability statement mandatory
- Code and algorithms shared openly
Ethics & Compliance
Ethical approval required for:
- Animal experiments (IACUC approval)
- Human-derived samples (IRB approval)
- Biosafety protocols for pathogen work
- Conflict of interest disclosure
- Funding source transparency
Preprint Policy
We welcome preprint submissions:
- Preprints do not affect consideration
- Authors must disclose preprint posting
- Preprint servers: bioRxiv, medRxiv accepted
- Version control maintained
Publication Metrics & Timelines
21
Days to First Decision (median)
28%
Acceptance Rate
45
Days to Publication (post-acceptance)
Open
Article Processing Charge (APC) Model
Ready to Submit?
If your research advances the fundamental understanding of antimicrobial chemotherapy through mechanistic, pharmacological, or microbiological investigation, we invite your submission.
Submit Your Manuscript
