Antimicrobial enzymes: Promising agents to combat bacterial and fungal pathogens

Area of Science:

• Biotechnology and Microbiology
• Agricultural Science
• Clinical Medicine

Background:

• Microbial resistance to antibiotics and pesticides is a growing global challenge.
• Pathogenic bacteria and fungi pose threats in clinical and agricultural environments.
• Existing antimicrobial strategies face limitations due to resistance development and environmental concerns.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the mechanisms, applications, and prospects of antimicrobial enzymes.
• To highlight the role of enzymes in combating microbial resistance.
• To identify sustainable and effective antimicrobial solutions.

Main Methods:

• Critical review of existing literature on antimicrobial enzymes.
• Exploration of enzyme mechanisms, including hydrolytic and oxidoreductases.
• Analysis of enzyme applications in healthcare and agriculture.

Main Results:

• Antimicrobial enzymes offer high specificity and minimal environmental impact.
• Enzymes can disrupt microbial cellular structures, biofilm formation, and functional proteins.
• Challenges include cost-intensive production, purification, and enzyme stability.

Conclusions:

• Antimicrobial enzymes are a promising alternative to conventional antimicrobials.
• Further research is needed to overcome production and stability hurdles for broad-spectrum application.
• Enzymes hold significant potential for sustainable microbial control in various fields.