Antimicrobial peptides: A promising solution to combat colistin and carbapenem resistance

Since their discovery in the 1920s, antibiotics have saved many lives by effectively combating bacterial infections. However, all antibiotics, including last-resort options such as colistin and carbapenem, have been found to show resistance. Bacteria have developed various mechanisms of action for colistin and carbapenems resistance. The concomitant presence of colistin and carbapenem resistance has exacerbated the severity of this situation. The lack of effective antibiotics in the future could make common infections deadly due to the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance. This prospect is deemed more alarming than that of cancer. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising options for addressing this problem due to their advantages over antibiotics. This review discusses colistin resistance, carbapenem resistance, AMPs, and their roles in targeting colistin and carbapenem resistance. AMPs targeting the filamenting temperature-sensitive mutant Z (FtsZ) protein are promising solutions to combat the emerging carbapenem and colistin co-resistance in bacteria. However, the significant challenges in the therapeutic use of AMPs include their toxicity, high production expenses, and low bioavailability. A therapy that combines AMPs that target the FtsZ protein with nanoscale drug delivery could be a valuable strategy for addressing the issue of carbapenem and colistin resistance.

Journal

GENE REPORTS

Year

2024

Volume

36

eISSN

2452-0144

DOI

10.1016/j.genrep.2024.101935

WoS UID

WOS:001247377400001