Combating Multidrug Resistance: The Potential of Antimicrobial Peptides and Biofilm Challenges

Abstract

The escalating crisis of antibiotic resistance represents a formidable challenge to global public health, necessitating urgent and innovative solutions. This review delves into the multifaceted nature of antibiotic resistance, emphasizing the pivotal role of biofilms and the genetic mechanisms underpinning resistance in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. A significant focus is placed on Staphylococcus aureus, particularly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), and its mechanisms of resistance, including the SCCmec element and the agr quorum sensing system. The review also explores the alarming rise of resistance in Gram-negative pathogens, such as E. coli and K. pneumoniae, highlighting the perilous spread of extended-spectrum β- lactamases (ESBLs) and carbapenemases. Amidst this dire landscape, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), particularly melittin from bee venom (BV), emerge as promising agents capable of breaching microbial defenses, including those of dormant cells within biofilms, thus offering a potential strategy to circumvent traditional resistance mechanisms. The review underscores the necessity of understanding bacterial survival strategies, such as biofilm formation and genetic adaptation, to develop effective countermeasures against antibiotic-resistant infections.