title: Antimicrobial peptides and their interaction with biofilms of medically relevant bacteria.
abstract: Biofilm-associated infections represent one of the major threats of modern medicine. Biofilm-forming bacteria are encased in a complex mixture of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and acquire properties that render them highly tolerant to conventional antibiotics and host immune response. Therefore, there is a pressing demand of new drugs active against microbial biofilms. In this regard, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent an option taken increasingly in consideration. After dissecting the peculiar biofilm features that may greatly affect the development of new antibiofilm drugs, the present article provides a general overview of the rationale behind the use of AMPs against biofilms of medically relevant bacteria and on the possible mechanisms of AMP-antibiofilm activity. An analysis of the interactions of AMPs with biofilm components, especially those constituting the EPS, and the obstacles and/or opportunities that may arise from such interactions in the development of new AMP-based antibiofilm strategies is also presented and discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Antimicrobial Peptides edited by Karl Lohner and Kai Hilpert.
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: giovanna.batoni@med.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Batoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppantonio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maisetta
authors.affiliation: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Semih
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Esin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015195:Drug Design; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial
keywords: Antibiofilm drugs; Antimicrobial peptides; Biofilm; Biofilm exopolysaccharides; Biofilm matrix; Biofilm proteins; Extracellular DNA