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Updated: May 28, 2026

11:56
Antimicrobial Peptides Produced by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids
Published on: May 4, 2018
Disruptive innovation in antibiotic development: a vision for lysins
1Department of Biotechnology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Lysins, a novel protein-based antibacterial, offer a disruptive solution to escalating antimicrobial resistance. Their targeted action and low resistance potential pave the way for precision medicine and microbiome preservation.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biotechnology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health crisis.
- Development of new antibiotic classes has stagnated, necessitating disruptive innovation.
- Traditional antibiotics face challenges with resistance and microbiome disruption.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore lysins as a disruptive innovation in antimicrobial therapy.
- To highlight the potential of lysins in combating AMR and preserving the microbiome.
- To discuss the integration of lysins into precision antimicrobial strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on lysins and antimicrobial resistance.
- Analysis of lysin characteristics, including bactericidal activity, specificity, and resistance potential.
- Exploration of protein engineering and theranostic applications of lysins.
Main Results:
- Lysins exhibit rapid, targeted bactericidal activity with low resistance potential.
- Their narrow-spectrum nature aids in microbiome preservation.
- Lysins can be engineered and combined with existing antibiotics for precision therapy.
Conclusions:
- Lysins represent a paradigm shift in antimicrobial therapy, offering a new innovation cycle.
- Their modularity and potential for synergistic effects facilitate clinical integration.
- Lysins are poised to become key components of precision antimicrobial treatments.
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