title: Antibacterial peptides for therapeutic use: obstacles and realistic outlook.
abstract: Cationic antimicrobial peptides are produced by almost all species of life as a component of their immediate non-specific defense against infections. The assets of these peptides in clinical application include their potential for broad-spectrum activity, rapid bactericidal activity and low propensity for resistance development, whereas possible disadvantages include their high cost, limited stability (especially when composed of L-amino acids), and unknown toxicology and pharmacokinetics. Initial barriers to their success are being increasingly overcome with the development of stable, more cost-effective and potent broad-spectrum synthetic peptides. Thus, there is hope that they will spawn a new generation of antimicrobials with a broad range of topical and systemic applications against infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, 232-2259 Lower Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada.
authors.forename: Alexandra K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Marr
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Gooderham
authors.forename: Robert Ew
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hancock
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides