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Our Experience over 20 Years: Antimicrobial Peptides against Gram Positives, Gram Negatives, and Fungi

Giulio Rizzetto1, Daisy Gambini1, Andrea Maurizi1

  • 1Clinic of Dermatology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60126 Ancona, Italy.

Pharmaceutics
|January 21, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) show promise in treating infections from drug-resistant microbes. Combining AMPs can restore the efficacy of older antibiotics and antifungals, though human studies are needed.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Rising antibiotic resistance necessitates novel anti-infective strategies.
  • Multidrug-resistant (MDR) infections pose a significant global health threat.
  • Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are emerging as potential therapeutic agents.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review 20 years of research on AMPs evaluated by the group.
  • To assess the efficacy of AMPs against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi.
  • To explore the potential of AMPs in combating antimicrobial resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Narrative review of 20 years of the research group's experience.
  • Evaluation of various AMPs against a spectrum of microbial pathogens.
  • Analysis of AMPs' effectiveness in overcoming resistance mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • AMPs demonstrated efficacy against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi.
  • Combinations of AMPs with existing antibiotics/antifungals restored their lost efficacy.
  • Synergistic effects were observed when AMPs were combined with conventional antimicrobials.

Conclusions:

  • AMPs represent a promising therapeutic option for treating multidrug-resistant infections.
  • AMP combination therapy can overcome established antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.
  • Further clinical studies are essential to address safety, cost, and efficacy in human patients.
Keywords:
Gram-positive Gram-negativeanti-microbial peptidesantibiotic resistancefungi

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