Mini Review on Antimicrobial Peptides, Sources, Mechanism and Recent Applications

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides in recent years have gained increased interest among scientists, health professionals and the pharmaceutical companies owing to their therapeutic potential. These are low molecular weight proteins with broad range antimicrobial and immuno modulatory activities against infectious bacteria (Gram positive and Gram negative), viruses and fungi. Inability of micro-organisms to develop resistance against most of the antimicrobial peptide has made them as an efficient product which can greatly impact the new era of antimicrobials. In addition to this these peptides also demonstrates increased efficacy, high specificity, decreased drug interaction, low toxicity, biological diversity and direct attacking properties. Pharmaceutical industries are therefore conducting appropriate clinical trials to develop these peptides as potential therapeutic drugs. More than 60 peptide drugs have already reached the market and several hundreds of novel therapeutic peptides are in preclinical and clinical development. Rational designing can be used further to modify the chemical and physical properties of existing peptides. This mini review will discuss the sources, mechanism and recent therapeutic applications of antimicrobial peptides in treatment of infectious diseases.

Insights into the use of mesenchymal stem cells in COVID-19 mediated acute respiratory failure

“…Multiple of the studies which have evaluated the nature of MSC antimicrobial activity have revealed a role for antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the process. AMPs are a diverse class of low molecular weight proteins produced as a first line of defense against pathogens such as bacteria, fungi and viruses 72 . In revolutionary work by Krasnodembskaya et al it was shown that the antibacterial effect of MSCs was partly mediated by LL-37, an AMP.…”

Antimicrobial and Amyloidogenic Activity of Peptides. Can Antimicrobial Peptides Be Used against SARS-CoV-2?

“…It has been shown that AMPs are capable of altering DNA morphology, with possible effects of nucleic acid disruption and fragmentation [ 161 ]. For example, buforin II and takiplesin bind to DNA, pleurocidin and indolicidin inhibit the DNA, RNA and protein synthesis (biosynthetic processes), drosocin and pyrrhocoricin reduce enzymatic activity, mersacidin inhibits the biosynthesis of the cell wall [ 162 ]. The study of supramolecular structures formed between DNA and AMPs has demonstrated a correlation between these structures and their ability to activate toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), an important receptor expressed in cells of the immune system [ 163 ].…”

Pexiganan in Combination with Nisin to Control Polymicrobial Diabetic Foot Infections

“…Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been increasingly investigated as promising therapeutic alternatives to conventional antimicrobial therapies. This family of molecules are constituted by low molecular weight proteins, discovered from both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, and are produced as part of innate immune response mechanisms against microorganisms [10]. AMPs typically exhibit broad-range antimicrobial action [11,12] and immunomodulatory properties [13,14].…”