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Akhash N, Farajzadeh Sheikh A, Farshadzadeh Z. Design of a novel analogue peptide with potent antibiofilm activities against Staphylococcus aureus based upon a sapecin B-derived peptide. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2256. [PMID: 38278972 PMCID: PMC10817945 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52721-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Nowadays, antimicrobial peptides are promising to confront the existing global crisis of antibiotic resistance. Here, a novel analogue peptide (mKLK) was designed based upon a D-form amidated sapecin B-derived peptide (KLK) by replacing two lysine residues with two tryptophan and one leucine by lysine, and inserting one alanine. The mKLK displayed superior amphipathic helixes in which the most of hydrophobic residues are confined to one face of the helix and had a higher hydrophobic moment compared with KLK. The mKLK retained its antibacterial activity and structure in human serum, suggesting its stability to proteolytic degradation. The values of MIC and MBC for mKLK were equal to those of KLK against clinical strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). However, mKLK showed more capability of in vitro inhibiting, eradicating, and dispersing MRSA and MSSA biofilms compared with KLK. Furthermore, a remarkable inhibitory activity of mKLK against MRSA and MSSA biofilms was seen in the murine model of catheter-associated biofilm infection. Results of this study show that mKLK not only exhibits antibacterial activity and serum stability but also a potent biofilm inhibitory activity at sub-MIC concentrations, confirming its potential therapeutic advantage for preventing biofilm-associated MRSA and MSSA infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Akhash
- Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Ahmad Farajzadeh Sheikh
- Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Zahra Farshadzadeh
- Health Research Institute, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
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2
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Mwangi J, Kamau PM, Thuku RC, Lai R. Design methods for antimicrobial peptides with improved performance. Zool Res 2023; 44:1095-1114. [PMID: 37914524 PMCID: PMC10802102 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The recalcitrance of pathogens to traditional antibiotics has made treating and eradicating bacterial infections more difficult. In this regard, developing new antimicrobial agents to combat antibiotic-resistant strains has become a top priority. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a ubiquitous class of naturally occurring compounds with broad-spectrum antipathogenic activity, hold significant promise as an effective solution to the current antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. Several AMPs have been identified and evaluated for their therapeutic application, with many already in the drug development pipeline. Their distinct properties, such as high target specificity, potency, and ability to bypass microbial resistance mechanisms, make AMPs a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics. Nonetheless, several challenges, such as high toxicity, lability to proteolytic degradation, low stability, poor pharmacokinetics, and high production costs, continue to hamper their clinical applicability. Therefore, recent research has focused on optimizing the properties of AMPs to improve their performance. By understanding the physicochemical properties of AMPs that correspond to their activity, such as amphipathicity, hydrophobicity, structural conformation, amino acid distribution, and composition, researchers can design AMPs with desired and improved performance. In this review, we highlight some of the key strategies used to optimize the performance of AMPs, including rational design and de novo synthesis. We also discuss the growing role of predictive computational tools, utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning, in the design and synthesis of highly efficacious lead drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Mwangi
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Centre for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Centre, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Sino-African Joint Research Centre, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Peter Muiruri Kamau
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Centre for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Centre, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Sino-African Joint Research Centre, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Rebecca Caroline Thuku
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Centre for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Centre, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Sino-African Joint Research Centre, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Centre for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Centre, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Sino-African Joint Research Centre, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Centre for Evolution and Conservation Biology, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511458, China. E-mail:
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3
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Sowers A, Wang G, Xing M, Li B. Advances in Antimicrobial Peptide Discovery via Machine Learning and Delivery via Nanotechnology. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1129. [PMID: 37317103 PMCID: PMC10223199 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11051129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been investigated for their potential use as an alternative to antibiotics due to the increased demand for new antimicrobial agents. AMPs, widely found in nature and obtained from microorganisms, have a broad range of antimicrobial protection, allowing them to be applied in the treatment of infections caused by various pathogenic microorganisms. Since these peptides are primarily cationic, they prefer anionic bacterial membranes due to electrostatic interactions. However, the applications of AMPs are currently limited owing to their hemolytic activity, poor bioavailability, degradation from proteolytic enzymes, and high-cost production. To overcome these limitations, nanotechnology has been used to improve AMP bioavailability, permeation across barriers, and/or protection against degradation. In addition, machine learning has been investigated due to its time-saving and cost-effective algorithms to predict AMPs. There are numerous databases available to train machine learning models. In this review, we focus on nanotechnology approaches for AMP delivery and advances in AMP design via machine learning. The AMP sources, classification, structures, antimicrobial mechanisms, their role in diseases, peptide engineering technologies, currently available databases, and machine learning techniques used to predict AMPs with minimal toxicity are discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexa Sowers
- Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
- School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
| | - Guangshun Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985900 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198, USA
| | - Malcolm Xing
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Bingyun Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA
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4
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Kang SJ, Nam SH, Lee BJ. Engineering Approaches for the Development of Antimicrobial Peptide-Based Antibiotics. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11101338. [PMID: 36289996 PMCID: PMC9599025 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11101338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have received increasing attention as potential alternatives for future antibiotics because of the rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. AMPs are small cationic peptides with broad-spectrum antibiotic activities and different action mechanisms to those of traditional antibiotics. Despite the desirable advantages of developing peptide-based antimicrobial agents, the clinical applications of AMPs are still limited because of their enzymatic degradation, toxicity, and selectivity. In this review, structural modifications, such as amino acid substitution, stapling, cyclization of peptides, and hybrid AMPs with conventional antibiotics or other peptides, will be presented. Additionally, nanodelivery systems using metals or lipids to deliver AMPs will be discussed based on the structural properties and action mechanisms of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Jin Kang
- College of Pharmacy, Dongduk Women’s University, Seoul 02748, Korea
| | - So Hee Nam
- College of Pharmacy, Dongduk Women’s University, Seoul 02748, Korea
| | - Bong-Jin Lee
- Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-880-7869
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5
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Kara Ş, Kürekci C, Akcan M. Design and modification of frog skin peptide brevinin-1GHa with enhanced antimicrobial activity on Gram-positive bacterial strains. Amino Acids 2022; 54:1327-1336. [DOI: 10.1007/s00726-022-03189-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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6
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Multidrug resistance crisis during COVID-19 pandemic: Role of anti-microbial peptides as next-generation therapeutics. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2021; 211:112303. [PMID: 34952285 PMCID: PMC8685351 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2021.112303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The decreasing effectiveness of conventional drugs due to multidrug-resistance is a major challenge for the scientific community, necessitating development of novel antimicrobial agents. In the present era of coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) pandemic, patients are being widely exposed to antimicrobial drugs and hence the problem of multidrug-resistance shall be aggravated in the days to come. Consequently, revisiting the phenomena of multidrug resistance leading to formulation of effective antimicrobial agents is the need of the hour. As a result, this review sheds light on the looming crisis of multidrug resistance in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It highlights the problem, significance and approaches for tackling microbial resistance with special emphasis on anti-microbial peptides as next-generation therapeutics against multidrug resistance associated diseases. Antimicrobial peptides exhibit exceptional mechanism of action enabling rapid killing of microbes at low concentration, antibiofilm activity, immunomodulatory properties along with a low tendency for resistance development providing them an edge over conventional antibiotics. The review is unique as it discusses the mode of action, pharmacodynamic properties and application of antimicrobial peptides in areas ranging from therapeutics to agriculture.
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7
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Wang Y, Ouyang J, Luo X, Zhang M, Jiang Y, Zhang F, Zhou J, Wang Y. Identification and characterization of novel bi-functional cathelicidins from the black-spotted frog (Pelophylax nigromaculata) with both anti-infective and antioxidant activities. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 116:103928. [PMID: 33242568 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Cathelicidins are an important family of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which play pivotal roles in vertebrate immune responses against microbial infections. They are regarded as potential drug leads for the development of novel antimicrobial agents and three related drugs have been developed into clinical trials. Thus, it is meaningful to identify more cathelicidins from vertebrate species. Cathelicidins from ranid frogs possess special structural characteristics and activities, but to date only 12 ranid frog cathelicidins have been identified. In the present study, two novel cathelicidins (PN-CATH1 and 2) were identified from the black-spotted frog, Pelophylax nigromaculata. PN-CATHs possess low sequence similarity with the known cathelicidins. They exhibited moderate, but broad-spectrum and rapid antimicrobial activities against the tested bacteria. They kill bacteria by mainly inducing bacterial membrane disruption and possibly generating intracellular ROS formation. They also possess potent anti-biofilm and persister cell killing activity, indicating their potential in combating infections induced by biofilms-forming bacteria. Besides direct antimicrobial activity, they exhibited potent anti-inflammatory activity by effectively inhibiting the LPS-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in mouse macrophages, which could be partly ascribed to their direct LPS-neutralizing ability. Furthermore, PN-CATHs demonstrated powerful in vitro free radical scavenging activities. Ultraviolet radiation significantly increased their in vivo gene expression in frog skin. Meanwhile, they possess weak cytotoxic activity and extremely low hemolytic activity. PN-CATHs represent the first discovery of cathelicidins family AMPs with both potent anti-infective and antioxidant activities. The discovery of PN-CATHs provides potential peptide leads for the development of novel anti-infective and antioxidant drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Biology Department, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550000, China
| | - Jianhong Ouyang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Xuanjin Luo
- Biology Department, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550000, China
| | - Minghui Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Yu Jiang
- Biology Department, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550000, China
| | - Fen Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Jiang Zhou
- Biology Department, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, 550000, China.
| | - Yipeng Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
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8
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Portelinha J, Duay SS, Yu SI, Heilemann K, Libardo MDJ, Juliano SA, Klassen JL, Angeles-Boza AM. Antimicrobial Peptides and Copper(II) Ions: Novel Therapeutic Opportunities. Chem Rev 2021; 121:2648-2712. [PMID: 33524257 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of new pathogens and multidrug resistant bacteria is an important public health issue that requires the development of novel classes of antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a promising platform with great potential for the identification of new lead compounds that can combat the aforementioned pathogens due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and relatively low rate of resistance emergence. AMPs of multicellular organisms made their debut four decades ago thanks to ingenious researchers who asked simple questions about the resistance to bacterial infections of insects. Questions such as "Do fruit flies ever get sick?", combined with pioneering studies, have led to an understanding of AMPs as universal weapons of the immune system. This review focuses on a subclass of AMPs that feature a metal binding motif known as the amino terminal copper and nickel (ATCUN) motif. One of the metal-based strategies of hosts facing a pathogen, it includes wielding the inherent toxicity of copper and deliberately trafficking this metal ion into sites of infection. The sudden increase in the concentration of copper ions in the presence of ATCUN-containing AMPs (ATCUN-AMPs) likely results in a synergistic interaction. Herein, we examine common structural features in ATCUN-AMPs that exist across species, and we highlight unique features that deserve additional attention. We also present the current state of knowledge about the molecular mechanisms behind their antimicrobial activity and the methods available to study this promising class of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Portelinha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Searle S Duay
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States.,Chemistry Department, Adamson University, 900 San Marcelino Street, Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines
| | - Seung I Yu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Kara Heilemann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - M Daben J Libardo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Samuel A Juliano
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Jonathan L Klassen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Alfredo M Angeles-Boza
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States.,Institute of Material Science, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
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Bioinformatic Analysis of 1000 Amphibian Antimicrobial Peptides Uncovers Multiple Length-Dependent Correlations for Peptide Design and Prediction. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9080491. [PMID: 32784626 PMCID: PMC7459754 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9080491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphibians are widely distributed on different continents, except for the polar regions. They are important sources for the isolation, purification and characterization of natural compounds, including peptides with various functions. Innate immune antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a critical role in warding off invading pathogens, such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. They may also have other biological functions such as endotoxin neutralization, chemotaxis, anti-inflammation, and wound healing. This article documents a bioinformatic analysis of over 1000 amphibian antimicrobial peptides registered in the Antimicrobial Peptide Database (APD) in the past 18 years. These anuran peptides were discovered in Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, and America from 1985 to 2019. Genomic and peptidomic studies accelerated the discovery pace and underscored the necessity in establishing criteria for peptide entry into the APD. A total of 99.9% of the anuran antimicrobial peptides are less than 50 amino acids with an average length of 24 and a net charge of +2.5. Interestingly, the various amphibian peptide families (e.g., temporins, brevinins, esculentins) can be connected through multiple length-dependent relationships. With an increase in length, peptide net charge increases, while the hydrophobic content decreases. In addition, glycine, leucine, lysine, and proline all show linear correlations with peptide length. These correlations improve our understanding of amphibian peptides and may be useful for prediction and design of new linear peptides with potential applications in treating infectious diseases, cancer and diabetes.
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Wang R, Zhai S, Liang Y, Teng L, Wang D, Zhang G. Antibacterial effects of a polypeptide-enriched extract of Rana chensinensis via the regulation of energy metabolism. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:4477-4483. [PMID: 32415505 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05508-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The improper usage of antibiotics is known to cause widespread antibiotic resistance. In this study, the antibacterial effects of a polypeptide-enriched extract from the skin of the amphibian Rana chensinensis (RCP) were evaluated against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the fungus Candida albicans. The mechanisms underlying these effects were also studied, and the minimum inhibitory concentration of RCP was determined for each species. Analyses of the levels of adenosine triphosphates (ATPases), including Na+/K+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase, and scanning electron microscopy confirmed that RCP damaged the microbial cell walls and membranes. RCP perturbed microbial metabolism and particularly affected the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA), suggesting that this agent downregulated the levels of succinate dehydrogenase, malate dehydrogenase and ATPase activity in cells. Furthermore, RCP caused the leakage of genetic material from all four microbial strains. In conclusion, RCP effectively inhibited the growth of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and a fungal species by disrupting energy metabolic processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruochen Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Qianjin Street 2699, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyu Zhai
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Qianjin Street 2699, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongtao Liang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Qianjin Street 2699, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Lirong Teng
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Qianjin Street 2699, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Qianjin Street 2699, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guirong Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Qianjin Street 2699, Changchun, 130012, Jilin Province, People's Republic of China.
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11
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Abstract
The discovery of antibiotics marked a golden age in the revolution of human medicine. However, decades later, bacterial infections remain a global healthcare threat, and a return to the pre-antibiotic era seems inevitable if stringent measures are not adopted to curb the rapid emergence and spread of multidrug resistance and the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. In hospital settings, multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogens, including carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) bearing Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae are amongst the most problematic due to the paucity of treatment options, increased hospital stay, and exorbitant medical costs. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) provide an excellent potential strategy for combating these threats. Compared to empirical antibiotics, they show low tendency to select for resistance, rapid killing action, broad-spectrum activity, and extraordinary clinical efficacy against several MDR strains. Therefore, this review highlights multidrug resistance among nosocomial bacterial pathogens and its implications and reiterates the importance of AMPs as next-generation antibiotics for combating MDR superbugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Mwangi
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province/Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China.,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650204, China.,Sino-African Joint Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Xue Hao
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province/Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province/Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China.,Sino-African Joint Research Center, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China.,Institutes for Drug Discovery and Development, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.,KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China.,Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan Hubei 430071, China
| | - Zhi-Ye Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province/Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650223, China, E-mail:
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