title: An overview of antimicrobial peptides and the latest advances in their development.
abstract: The recent dramatic increase in the incidence of antimicrobial resistance has been recognized by organizations such as the United Nations and World Health Organization as well as the governments of the USA and several European countries. A relatively new weapon in the fight against severe infections caused by multi-drug resistant bacteria is antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). These include colistin, currently regarded as the last line of antimicrobial therapy against multi-drug resistant microorganisms. Areas covered: Here, the authors provide an overview of the current research on AMPs. The focus is AMPs currently being developed for the treatment of recalcitrant bacterial infections, the synergies of AMPs and antibiotics, and the activity of AMPs against biofilm. This review also includes a brief introduction into the use of AMPs in infections caused by Mycobacterium, fungi, and parasites. Expert opinion: In research into new antimicrobials, AMPs are gaining increasing attention. While many are natural and are produced by a wide variety of organisms, others are being newly designed and chemically synthesized in the laboratory to achieve novel antimicrobial agents. The same strategy to fight infections in nature is thus being effectively exploited to safeguard human and animal health.
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Antimicrobials, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine , University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Josep M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sierra
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Antimicrobials, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine , University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.|b Dept. Public Health, Mental Health and Perinatal Nursing. School of nursing , University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fusté
authors.affiliation: c Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry , University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rabanal
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Antimicrobials, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine , University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vinuesa
authors.affiliation: a Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Antimicrobials, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, School of Medicine , University of Barcelona , Barcelona , Spain.|d Departament of Biomedicine , Cooperativa de Ensino Superior Politécnico e Universitário, IINFACTS , Gandra , Portugal.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viñas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009348:Nematoda / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents
keywords: Antimicrobial peptides; antimicrobial agents; cationic peptides; defensins; resistance