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Expert Opinion on Biological Therapy 2023To overcome the challenge of multidrug resistance, natural and synthetic peptides are candidates to become the basis of innovative therapeutics, featuring diverse... (Review)
Review
INTRODUCTION
To overcome the challenge of multidrug resistance, natural and synthetic peptides are candidates to become the basis of innovative therapeutics, featuring diverse mechanisms of action. Traditionally, the time elapsed from medical discoveries to their application is long. The urgency derived from the emergence of antibiotic resistance recommends an acceleration of research to put the new weapons in the hands of clinicians.
AREAS COVERED
This narrative review introduces ideas and suggestions of new strategies that may be used as a basis upon which to recommend reduced development times and to facilitate the arrival of new molecules in the fight against microbes.
EXPERT OPINION
Although studies on new innovative antimicrobial treatments are being conducted, sooner rather than later, more clinical trials, preclinical and translational research are needed to promote the development of innovative antimicrobial treatments for multidrug resistant infections. The situation is worrying, no less than that generated by pandemics such as the ones we have just experienced and conflicts such as world wars. Although from the point of view of human perception, resistance to antibiotics may not seem as serious as these other situations, it is possibly the hidden pandemic that most jeopardizes the future of medicine.
Topics: Humans; Antimicrobial Peptides; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Peptides
PubMed: 37366927
DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2023.2226796 -
Current Medicinal Chemistry 2019Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) are one of the most common components of the innate immune system that protect multicellular organisms against microbial invasion. The vast... (Review)
Review
Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) are one of the most common components of the innate immune system that protect multicellular organisms against microbial invasion. The vast majority of AMPs are isolated from the frog skin. Anuran (frogs and toads) skin contains abundant AMPs that can be developed therapeutically. Such peptides are a unique but diverse group of molecules. In general, more than 50% of the amino acid residues form the hydrophobic part of the molecule. Normally, there are no conserved structural motifs responsible for activity, although the vast majority of the AMPs are cationic due to the presence of multiple lysine residues; this cationicity has a close relationship with antibacterial activity. Notably, recent evidence suggests that synthesis of AMPs in frog skin may confer an advantage on a particular species, although they are not essential for survival. Frog skin AMPs exert potent activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, protozoa, yeasts, and fungi by permeating and destroying the plasma membrane and inactivating intracellular targets. Importantly, since they do not bind to a specific receptor, AMPs are less likely to induce resistance mechanisms. Currently, the best known amphibian AMPs are esculentins, brevinins, ranacyclins, ranatuerins, nigrocin-2, magainins, dermaseptins, bombinins, temporins, and japonicins-1 and -2, and palustrin-2. This review focuses on these frog skin AMPs and the mechanisms underlying their antimicrobial activity. We hope that this review will provide further information that will facilitate further study of AMPs and cast new light on novel and safer microbicides.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Anura; Bacteria; Eukaryota; Fungi; Humans; Skin
PubMed: 30009702
DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180713125314 -
Letters in Applied Microbiology Sep 2022
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents
PubMed: 35938807
DOI: 10.1111/lam.13800 -
Marine Drugs Jan 2015Marine bioresources are a valuable source of bioactive compounds with industrial and nutraceutical potential. Numerous clinical trials evaluating novel chemotherapeutic... (Review)
Review
Marine bioresources are a valuable source of bioactive compounds with industrial and nutraceutical potential. Numerous clinical trials evaluating novel chemotherapeutic agents derived from marine sources have revealed novel mechanisms of action. Recently, marine-derived bioactive peptides have attracted attention owing to their numerous beneficial effects. Moreover, several studies have reported that marine peptides exhibit various anti-infective activities, such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antimalarial, antiprotozoal, anti-tuberculosis, and antiviral activities. In the last several decades, studies of marine plants, animals, and microbes have revealed tremendous number of structurally diverse and bioactive secondary metabolites. However, the treatments available for many infectious diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, and viruses are limited. Thus, the identification of novel antimicrobial peptides should be continued, and all possible strategies should be explored. In this review, we will present the structures and anti-infective activity of peptides isolated from marine sources (sponges, algae, bacteria, fungi and fish) from 2006 to the present.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Antifungal Agents; Antimalarials; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Antiprotozoal Agents; Antiviral Agents; Aquatic Organisms; Porifera
PubMed: 25603351
DOI: 10.3390/md13010618 -
Frontiers in Bioscience (Scholar... Jan 2016The hospital infections associated with surgical procedures and implants still represents a severe problem to modern society. Therefore, new strategies to combat... (Review)
Review
The hospital infections associated with surgical procedures and implants still represents a severe problem to modern society. Therefore, new strategies to combat bacterial infections mainly caused by microorganisms resistant to conventional antibiotics are extremely necessary. In this context, antimicrobial peptides have gained prominence due their biocompatibility, low toxicity and effectiveness. The immobilization of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) onto a biomaterial surface is an excellent alternative to the development of new biodevices with microbicide properties. Herein, we describe reports related to physical-chemical characterization, in vitro/in vivo studies and clinical applicability. In this review, we focused on the AMPs mechanisms of action, different peptide immobilization strategies on solid surface and their microbicide effectiveness.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Biocompatible Materials; Peptides
PubMed: 26709903
DOI: 10.2741/s453 -
Journal of Controlled Release :... Nov 2017Sexual transmission remains one of the most significant hurdles in the fight against HIV infection. The use of vaginal or rectal microbicides has been proposed for... (Review)
Review
Sexual transmission remains one of the most significant hurdles in the fight against HIV infection. The use of vaginal or rectal microbicides has been proposed for topical pre-exposure prophylaxis but available results from clinical trials of candidate products have been, at best, less than optimal. While waiting for the first product to get regulatory approval, novel approaches are being explored in order to enhance efficacy, as well as to assure safety. Strategies involving specific delivery of antiviral agents to key players involved in the early steps of sexual transmission have the potential to help achieving such purposes. Engineering systems that allow targeting cells, tissues or other biological structures of interest may provide a way to modulate local pharmacokinetics of promising microbicide molecules and, thus, maximize protection. This concise review discusses the identification and use of potential targets for such purpose, while detailing on several examples of targeted systems engineered as potential microbicide candidates. Furthermore, remaining challenges and hints for future work in the field of targeted microbicides are addressed.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Infective Agents; Drug Delivery Systems; HIV Infections; Humans
PubMed: 28951320
DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2017.09.030 -
Chinese Medical Journal Feb 2020This paper reviews the current epidemics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in China, particularly the globally available prevention strategies developed... (Review)
Review
This paper reviews the current epidemics of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in China, particularly the globally available prevention strategies developed and implemented. This review focuses on HIV prevention measures in general, such as education, testing, and counseling and in specific responses to transmission modes, such as blood safety, harm reduction for people who inject drugs, and condom promotion to reduce sexual transmission. We also assess newly developed prevention measures, such as prevention treatment, pre-exposure prophylaxis, post-exposure prophylaxis, male circumcision, and promising potential future preventions, including microbicides and vaccines. Based on this assessment, we provide recommendations for their implementation in China. We conclude that there is no magic bullet for HIV prevention, particularly sexual transmission of the disease, but only a combination of these prevention strategies can control the HIV epidemic.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Blood Safety; China; Condoms; Counseling; Disease Transmission, Infectious; HIV Infections; Health Education; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; Post-Exposure Prophylaxis
PubMed: 31929359
DOI: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000000647 -
MicrobiologyOpen Sep 2020Ethanol and povidone-iodine (PVP-I) are important microbicides that inactivate bacteria and viruses. The present study provides a review of literature data on the... (Review)
Review
Ethanol and povidone-iodine (PVP-I) are important microbicides that inactivate bacteria and viruses. The present study provides a review of literature data on the concentration-dependent bactericidal and virucidal activity of ethanol and PVP-I in vitro. A systematic search was performed using the meta-database for biomedicine PubMed. Eventually, 74 studies with original data on the reduction of bacterial and viral infectivity using in vitro tests were analyzed. A safe bactericidal effect of ethanol can be expected at concentrations between 60% and 85%, and the exposure times vary between ≤0.5 and ≥5 min. Within an exposure of up to 5 min, 80%-90% ethanol also exerts virucidal/low-level activity, which includes its action against enveloped viruses plus adeno-, noro-, and rotaviruses. For PVP-I, the best bactericidal and virucidal/high-level effect is present at a concentration range of approx. 0.08%-0.9% depending on the free iodine concentration. The maximum exposure times are 5 min for bacteria and 60 min for viruses. The available data may help optimize the significant inactivation of bacteria and viruses in various areas. However, as the conditions in application practice can vary, concrete recommendations for the application can only be derived to a limited extent.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Antiviral Agents; Bacteria; Disinfectants; Ethanol; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microbial Viability; Povidone-Iodine; Viruses
PubMed: 32567807
DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.1097 -
Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines Feb 2016Marine ecological niches have recently been described as "particularly promising" sources for search of new antimicrobials to combat antibiotic-resistant strains of... (Review)
Review
Marine ecological niches have recently been described as "particularly promising" sources for search of new antimicrobials to combat antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogenic microorganisms. Marine organisms are excellent sources for many industrial products, but they are partly explored. Over 30 000 compounds have been isolated from marine sources. Bacteria, fungi, and cyanobacteria obtained from various marine sources secret several industrially useful bioactive compounds, possessing antibacterial, antifungal, and antimycobacterial activities. Sustainable cultivation methods for promising marine organisms and biotechnological processes for selected compounds can be developed, along with the establishment of biosensors for monitoring the target compounds. The semisynthetic modifications of marine-based bioactive compounds produce their new derivatives, structural analogs and mimetics that could serve as novel lead compounds against resistant pathogens. The present review focuses on promising antimicrobial compounds isolated from marine microbes from 1991-2013.
Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Bacteria; Fungi; Seawater
PubMed: 26968676
DOI: 10.1016/S1875-5364(16)60003-1 -
Drug Delivery and Translational Research Aug 2021Ocular infection induced by bacteria and fungi is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness. Topical administration of antibiotics remains the first-line... (Review)
Review
Ocular infection induced by bacteria and fungi is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness. Topical administration of antibiotics remains the first-line treatment, as effective eradication of pathogens is the core of the anti-infection strategy. Whereas, eye drops lack efficiency and have relatively low bioavailability. Intraocular injection may cause concurrent ocular damage and secondary infection. In addition, antibiotic-based management can be limited by the low sensitivity to multidrug-resistant bacteria. Nanomedicine is proposed as a prospective, effective, and noninvasive platform to mediate ocular delivery and combat pathogen or even resistant strains. Nanomedicine can not only carry antimicrobial agents to fight against pathogens but also directly active microbicidal capability, killing pathogens. More importantly, by modification, nanomedicine can achieve enhanced residence time and release time on the cornea, and easy penetration through corneal tissues into anterior and posterior segments of the eye, thus improving the therapeutic effect for ocular infection. In this review, several categories of antimicrobial nanomedicine are systematically discussed, where the efficiency and possibility of further embellishment and improvement to adapt to clinical use are also investigated. All in all, novel antimicrobial nanomedicine provides potent and prospective ways to manage severe and refractory ocular infections.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Bacteria; Cornea; Humans; Mycoses; Nanomedicine; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 33840082
DOI: 10.1007/s13346-021-00966-x