Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 28, 2026

Antimicrobial Synergy Testing by the Inkjet Printer-assisted Automated Checkerboard Array and the Manual Time-kill Method
Published on: April 18, 2019
Synergistic Action of Antimicrobial Peptides and Antibiotics
Alicja Matyjewicz1, Agata Krakowska1,2, Dominik Műller1
1Department of Analytical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Krakow, Al. Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Krakow, Poland.
Abstract:
In recent years, the rapid rise of antimicrobial resistance has intensified the search for alternative agents to treat drug-resistant infections. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising therapeutic candidates due to their broad-spectrum activity, diverse mechanisms of action, relatively low risk of resistance development, and potential for use in combination therapies. This review outlines current knowledge on the properties and mechanisms of action of AMPs compared to conventional antibiotics. Furthermore, it discusses synergistic interactions between antimicrobial peptides and antibiotics, focusing on the underlying mechanisms, therapeutic implications, and translational challenges. It also summarizes key in vitro and in vivo studies, demonstrating enhanced antimicrobial efficacy of AMP-antibiotic combinations, including mechanisms such as increased membrane permeability, disruption of intracellular pathways, inhibition of biofilm formation, and efflux pump inhibition. The immunomodulatory and wound-healing properties of AMPs are also highlighted as factors that further strengthen their therapeutic potential in vivo. The review concludes with an overview of the main limitations hindering clinical translation and highlights ongoing research efforts aimed at optimizing AMP-based combination therapies against multidrug-resistant pathogens.
Related Concept Videos
Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism
Such synergistic combinations...
Antimicrobial Proteins
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Inhibitors of Gram-positive Cell Wall Synthesis
Antimicrobial Effectiveness
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis
