Antimicrobial peptides: A promising alternative to traditional antibiotics

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming an emerging global threat, causing the reduced effectiveness of traditional antibiotics and the growing problem of multi-resistant pathogens. Under these circumstances, the attention given to antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics is considerable. AMPs are endogenous molecules present in any organism: mammals, amphibians, insects, plants, and microorganisms. AMPs play the most significant role in the innate immunity of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even cancer cells. In this review, structural diversity, mechanisms of action, and therapeutic potential of AMPs are discussed. AMPs are divided into α-helical, β-sheet, loop, and extended peptides based on secondary structures that provide unique modes of action including membrane disruption and inhibition of intracellular targets. Despite the merits of a rapidly responding mechanism and lower resistive propensity, therapeutic use of AMPs suffers from numerous disadvantages, including poor stability and high production costs, cytotoxicity. The latest advancements of nanotechnology and synthetic biology along with computational tools provide solutions to the latter steps toward developing more effective AMP-based therapeutics. The future prospects for AMPs lie in overcoming the current challenges through innovative research and technological advancement. As the search for effective alternatives to traditional antibiotics intensifies, AMPs are a versatile and potent class of molecules with the promise to answer this ever-mounting problem of antimicrobial resistance.