Antimicrobial Peptides: Classification, action and therapeutic potential

Abstract

Microbial resistance to conventional antibiotics is one of the most outstanding medical and scientific challenges. Antimicrobial resistance is an alarming threat to public health at the global level. This is due to acquired resistance to antimicrobial agents by microorganisms associated directly to the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. To combat the ill effects of antibiotic resistance several substances known as antimicrobial peptides have been used. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an essential part of innate immunity that evolved in most living organisms over 2.6 billion years to combat microbial challenge. The naturally occurring peptides are seen as a promising alternative to regular antibiotics, because they are still effective defence mechanism against bacteria despite exposure throughout the centuries. These AMPs use different mechanisms to kill the microbial pathogens. Different classes of the AMPs have been discovered that have proved to be of immense advantage in combating different pathogens. This review shall give a brief discussion regarding the classification, mode of action and therapeutic potential of AMPs.