The frequent occurrence of multidrug-resistant strains to conventional antimicrobials has led to a clear decline of antibiotic therapies. Therefore, new molecules with different mechanisms of action are extremely necessary. Due to their unique properties, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a valid alternative to conventional antibiotics and many of them have been characterized for their activity and cytotoxicity. However, the effects that these peptides cause at concentrations below the minimum growth inhibitory concentration (MIC) have yet to be fully analyzed along with the underlying molecular mechanism. In this mini-review, the ability of AMPs to synergize with different antibiotic classes or different natural compounds is examined. Furthermore, data on microbial resistance induction are reported to highlight the importance of antibiotic resistance in the fight against infections. Finally, the effects that sub-MIC levels of AMPs can have on the bacterial pathogenicity are summarized while showing how signaling pathways can be valid therapeutic targets for treatment of infectious diseases. All these aspects support the high potential of AMPs as lead compounds for the development of new drugs with antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities.

Antimicrobial peptides and their multiple effects at sub-inhibitory concentrations / Casciaro, Bruno; Cappiello, Floriana; Verrusio, Walter; Cacciafesta, Mauro; Mangoni, Maria Luisa. - In: CURRENT TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY. - ISSN 1568-0266. - 20:(2020), pp. 1-10. [10.2174/1568026620666200427090912]

Antimicrobial peptides and their multiple effects at sub-inhibitory concentrations

Casciaro, Bruno
;
Cappiello, Floriana;Verrusio, Walter;Cacciafesta, Mauro;Mangoni, Maria Luisa
2020

Abstract

The frequent occurrence of multidrug-resistant strains to conventional antimicrobials has led to a clear decline of antibiotic therapies. Therefore, new molecules with different mechanisms of action are extremely necessary. Due to their unique properties, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a valid alternative to conventional antibiotics and many of them have been characterized for their activity and cytotoxicity. However, the effects that these peptides cause at concentrations below the minimum growth inhibitory concentration (MIC) have yet to be fully analyzed along with the underlying molecular mechanism. In this mini-review, the ability of AMPs to synergize with different antibiotic classes or different natural compounds is examined. Furthermore, data on microbial resistance induction are reported to highlight the importance of antibiotic resistance in the fight against infections. Finally, the effects that sub-MIC levels of AMPs can have on the bacterial pathogenicity are summarized while showing how signaling pathways can be valid therapeutic targets for treatment of infectious diseases. All these aspects support the high potential of AMPs as lead compounds for the development of new drugs with antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities.
2020
antibiotic resistance; antimicrobial peptides; induction of resistance; pathogenicity; quorumsensing.; synergism
01 Pubblicazione su rivista::01g Articolo di rassegna (Review)
Antimicrobial peptides and their multiple effects at sub-inhibitory concentrations / Casciaro, Bruno; Cappiello, Floriana; Verrusio, Walter; Cacciafesta, Mauro; Mangoni, Maria Luisa. - In: CURRENT TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY. - ISSN 1568-0266. - 20:(2020), pp. 1-10. [10.2174/1568026620666200427090912]
File allegati a questo prodotto
File Dimensione Formato  
Casciaro_Antimicrobial_2020.pdf

solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Documento in Post-print (versione successiva alla peer review e accettata per la pubblicazione)
Licenza: Tutti i diritti riservati (All rights reserved)
Dimensione 812.31 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
812.31 kB Adobe PDF   Contatta l'autore

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11573/1396100
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 3
  • Scopus 5
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 5
social impact