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

Unlike other animals, marine invertebrates lack an adaptive immune system and instead rely on innate immunity as their first line of defense. A key component of this innate response is the production of biologically active molecules, particularly antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which offer promising solutions to the escalating global crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This review comprehensively examines the sources, structural diversity, mechanisms of action, biological functions, and therapeutic potential of AMPs derived from a wide range of marine invertebrate phyla. These evolutionarily conserved peptides exhibit broad-spectrum antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, and even anticancer activities. The review also summarizes strategies for AMP isolation and production, ranging from natural extraction to recombinant expression and chemical synthesis, and outlines their potential biotechnological applications. Furthermore, we highlight the transformative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in accelerating AMP discovery, design, and production, including predictive modeling, de novo peptide generation, and optimization workflows. Despite significant progress, challenges remain in large-scale production, pharmacokinetic characterization, and functional validation. Addressing these gaps through integrative omics, structural biology, and AI-driven innovation will be crucial for unlocking the full therapeutic potential of marine invertebrate AMPs in combating infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance.