Antimicrobial Peptides: Diversity, Mechanism of Action and Strategies to Improve the Activity and Biocompatibility In Vivo

2018/01/19 by Prashant Kumar, Jayachandran N. Kizhakkedathu, Suzana K. Straus · 1,226 citations
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · Chemistry · Immunology and Microbiology · Medicine · #Antimicrobial #Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities #Antimicrobial peptides #Biochemical and Structural Characterization #Biocompatibility #Biology #Chemistry #Drug delivery #Human health #Materials science #Medicine #Microbiology #Nanotechnology #Pharmacology #Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides

paper · pdf · doi:10.3390/biom8010004

published in Biomolecules 8(1), 4 (Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

openalex publication_date 2018/01/19 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is projected as one of the greatest threats to human health in the future and hence alternatives are being explored to combat resistance. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have shown great promise, because use of AMPs leads bacteria to develop no or low resistance. In this review, we discuss the diversity, history and the various mechanisms of action of AMPs. Although many AMPs have reached clinical trials, to date not many have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to issues with toxicity, protease cleavage and short half-life. Some of the recent strategies developed to improve the activity and biocompatibility of AMPs, such as chemical modifications and the use of delivery systems, are also reviewed in this article.

Citations

• Molecular mechanisms of membrane targeting antibiotics
• All-D amino acid-containing channel-forming antibiotic peptides.
• Relationship of Membrane Curvature to the Formation of Pores by Magainin 2
• Effects of net charge and the number of positively charged residues on the biological activity of amphipathic α‐helical cationic antimicrobial peptides
• UCSF Chimera—A visualization system for exploratory research and analysis
• Mechanisms of Antimicrobial Peptide Action and Resistance

Cited by

• Mechanisms of Action for Antimicrobial Peptides With Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Functions
• Recent Advances in Therapeutic Peptides: Innovations and Applications in Treating Infections and Diseases
• Suzana Straus [wikipedia]

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