Abstract
The rapid rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has once again caused bacterial infections to become a global health concern. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also known as host defense peptides (HDPs), offer a viable solution to these pathogens due to their diverse mechanisms of actions, which include direct killing as well as immunomodulatory properties (e.g., anti-inflammatory activity). HDPs may hence provide a more robust treatment of bacterial infections. In this review, the advent of and the mechanisms that lead to antibiotic resistance will be described. HDP mechanisms of antibacterial and immunomodulatory action will be presented, with specific examples of how the HDP aurein 2.2 and a few of its derivatives, namely peptide 73 and cG4L73, function. Finally, resistance that may arise from a broader use of HDPs in a clinical setting and methods to improve biocompatibility will be briefly discussed.
Highlights
In addition to direct bacterial action, many host defense peptides (HDPs) have been shown to regulate a broad range of immunomodulatory activities that can enhance the host’s response to infection (Figure 3b)
HDPs can influence the function of neutrophils by stimulating the secretion of neutrophil chemokines, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) and-α (Gro-α or CXCL1) [54], or the release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs)
HDPs, a diverse family of antimicrobial agents produced by virtually all domains of life, present a promising solution to these pathogens due to their high antibacterial activity and, in some cases, auxiliary immunomodulatory properties that potentially provide a more robust response to infection
Summary
The discovery of antibiotic agents has been deemed one of the most impactful advances in modern medicine. COVID-19 pandemic may exacerbate resistance and increase this number, as antibiotics are being heavily overprescribed to COVID-19 patients even when only a small proportion (estimated to be 6.9% [11]) display bacterial co-infection [11,12,13]. As such, it is of utmost importance and urgency to develop novel treatments for these infections, as well as more tightly regulate the current excessive use of antibiotics in healthcare and other fields, such as agriculture, that facilitate resistance generation [3,4]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
