Abstract
Development of antibiotic resistance that leads to resurgence of bacterial infections poses a threat to disease-free existence for humankind and is a challenge for the welfare of the society at large. Despite research efforts directed towards treatment of pathogens, antibiotics within new improved classes have not emerged for years, a fact largely attributable to the pharmacological necessities compelling drug development. Recent reversion to the use of natural products alone or in combination with standard drugs has opened up new vistas for alternative therapeutics. The success of this strategy is evident in the sudden interest in plant extracts as additives/synergists for treatment of maladies caused by drug-resistant bacterial strains. Animal venoms have long fascinated scientists as sources of pharmacologically active components that can be exploited for the treatment of specific ailments and should be promoted further to clinical trials. In the present review, we outline the scope and possible methods for the applications of animal venoms in combination with commercial antibiotics to offer a better treatment approach against antibiotic-resistant infections.
Highlights
Antibiotics are the chemical entities that kill bacteria or slow down their growth
It has been established that long term use and overuse of antibiotics have given rise to a serious complication known as antimicrobial resistance [1]
A naturally occurring antibiotic, was discovered in 1929 by Fleming, microbial-derived antibiotics brought a complete revolution in antimicrobial therapeutics and became the main line of defense against infectious diseases [1, 2]
Summary
Antibiotics are the chemical entities that kill bacteria or slow down their growth. These one-time wonder medicines of the antibiotic era were not without serious side effects. It has been established that long term use and overuse of antibiotics have given rise to a serious complication known as antimicrobial resistance [1]. Resistance emerged against many classes of commonly used antibiotics giving rise to multidrug resistance (MDR) [2]. The unresolved status of resistance mechanisms has become such a matter of concern that the World Health Organization (WHO) considers it urgent to require the development of alternative therapeutics due to drug resistance
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