Progress towards the clinical use of antimicrobial peptides: challenges and opportunities

ABSTRACT

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.

KEYWORDS:

• Antimicrobial resistance
• antimicrobial peptides
• synergism
• antimicrobial combinations
• drug regulations

Article highlights

• More clinical trials and pre-clinical and translational research are needed to move toward the development of innovative antimicrobial treatments useful in the fight against multidrug-resistant infections

• Both natural and synthetic peptides are solid candidates to become the basis of innovative therapeutics.

• There should be a reduction in the time lag between medical discoveries and applications.

• The urgency of the emergence of antibiotic resistance would seem to suggest that research should be accelerated in order to get the new weapons into the hands of clinicians.

• New technological applications, combination of peptides with traditional antibiotics or other peptides, chimeric molecules and double or triple combinations may greatly contribute to overcome resistance.

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

The research on AMPs at the Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology & Antimicrobials is funded by the TV3 Marató Foundation Grant BARNAPA.