Unlocking Antimicrobial Peptides from Marine Invertebrates: A Comprehensive Review of Antimicrobial Discovery

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Immunology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Marine invertebrates possess innate immunity, lacking adaptive immune systems.
• Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are crucial molecules in their innate defense.
• AMPs present a potential solution to rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review AMPs from marine invertebrates, covering their sources, structures, functions, and therapeutic potential.
• To explore methods for AMP isolation and production.
• To highlight the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in AMP research.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of marine invertebrate AMPs.
• Analysis of AMPs' structural diversity and mechanisms of action.
• Examination of AI-driven strategies for AMP discovery and design.

Main Results:

• Marine invertebrate AMPs exhibit broad-spectrum activity (antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, anticancer).
• Various production strategies exist, including extraction, recombinant expression, and synthesis.
• AI significantly accelerates AMP discovery, design, and optimization.

Conclusions:

• Marine invertebrate AMPs hold significant therapeutic promise for infectious diseases and AMR.
• Challenges in large-scale production and validation need addressing.
• Integrative approaches combining omics, structural biology, and AI are key to future development.