Abstract
The formation of surface-attached cellular agglomerates, the so-called biofilms, contributes significantly to bacterial resistance to antibiotics and innate host defenses. Bacterial biofilms are associated to various pathological conditions in humans such as cystic fibrosis, colonization of indwelling medical devices and dental plaque formation involved in caries and periodontitis. Over the last years, natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted considerable interest as a new class of antimicrobial drugs for a number of reasons. Among these, there are the broad activity spectrum, the relative selectivity towards their targets (microbial membranes), the rapid mechanism of action and, above all, the low frequency in selecting resistant strains. Since biofilm resistance to antibiotics is mainly due to the slow growth rate and low metabolic activity of bacteria in such community, the use of AMPs to inhibit biofilm formation could be potentially an attractive therapeutic approach. In fact, due to the prevalent mechanism of action of AMPs, which relies on their ability to permeabilize and/or to form pores within the cytoplasmic membranes, they have a high potential to act also on slow growing or even non-growing bacteria. This review will highlight the most important findings obtained testing AMPs in in vitro and in vivo models of bacterial biofilms, pointing out the possible advantages and limits of their use against microbial biofilm-related infections.
Keywords: Antimicrobial peptides, antibiotic resistance, biofilm, exopolysaccharides, medical device, peptidomimetics, agglomerates, cystic fibrosis, cecropins, magainins, cathelicidin, lipopolysaccharide, Stenotrophomonas malthophilia, albumin, glycosaminoglycans, Candida albicans, Microbial Biofilms, quorum-sensing, acyl ho-moserine lactone (AHLs), urinary catheters, dental acrylic, otitis media, periodontitis, chronic prostatitis, haematogeneous osteomyelitis, Lactoferrin, kappacin, Omiganan, arginine, tryptophan, membranolytic activity, methicillin-susceptible, methicillin-resistant, vancomycin-resistant, vancomycin, linezolid, rifampicin, antibiotics, Actinobacillus, antimicrobial activity, benzalkonium, Phyllomedusa, meta-phenylene ethynylene, defensin-3, glucuronoxylomannan, amphotericin B, central venous catheters, piperacillin-tazobactam, tachiplesin III, octadecapeptide, poly-glutammic acid, Histatin 5, Quorum sensing
Current Medicinal Chemistry
Title: Use of Antimicrobial Peptides Against Microbial Biofilms: Advantages and Limits
Volume: 18 Issue: 2
Author(s): Giovanna Batoni, Giuseppantonio Maisetta, Franca Lisa Brancatisano, Semih Esin and Mario Campa
Affiliation:
Keywords: Antimicrobial peptides, antibiotic resistance, biofilm, exopolysaccharides, medical device, peptidomimetics, agglomerates, cystic fibrosis, cecropins, magainins, cathelicidin, lipopolysaccharide, Stenotrophomonas malthophilia, albumin, glycosaminoglycans, Candida albicans, Microbial Biofilms, quorum-sensing, acyl ho-moserine lactone (AHLs), urinary catheters, dental acrylic, otitis media, periodontitis, chronic prostatitis, haematogeneous osteomyelitis, Lactoferrin, kappacin, Omiganan, arginine, tryptophan, membranolytic activity, methicillin-susceptible, methicillin-resistant, vancomycin-resistant, vancomycin, linezolid, rifampicin, antibiotics, Actinobacillus, antimicrobial activity, benzalkonium, Phyllomedusa, meta-phenylene ethynylene, defensin-3, glucuronoxylomannan, amphotericin B, central venous catheters, piperacillin-tazobactam, tachiplesin III, octadecapeptide, poly-glutammic acid, Histatin 5, Quorum sensing
Abstract: The formation of surface-attached cellular agglomerates, the so-called biofilms, contributes significantly to bacterial resistance to antibiotics and innate host defenses. Bacterial biofilms are associated to various pathological conditions in humans such as cystic fibrosis, colonization of indwelling medical devices and dental plaque formation involved in caries and periodontitis. Over the last years, natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted considerable interest as a new class of antimicrobial drugs for a number of reasons. Among these, there are the broad activity spectrum, the relative selectivity towards their targets (microbial membranes), the rapid mechanism of action and, above all, the low frequency in selecting resistant strains. Since biofilm resistance to antibiotics is mainly due to the slow growth rate and low metabolic activity of bacteria in such community, the use of AMPs to inhibit biofilm formation could be potentially an attractive therapeutic approach. In fact, due to the prevalent mechanism of action of AMPs, which relies on their ability to permeabilize and/or to form pores within the cytoplasmic membranes, they have a high potential to act also on slow growing or even non-growing bacteria. This review will highlight the most important findings obtained testing AMPs in in vitro and in vivo models of bacterial biofilms, pointing out the possible advantages and limits of their use against microbial biofilm-related infections.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Batoni Giovanna, Maisetta Giuseppantonio, Lisa Brancatisano Franca, Esin Semih and Campa Mario, Use of Antimicrobial Peptides Against Microbial Biofilms: Advantages and Limits, Current Medicinal Chemistry 2011; 18 (2) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986711794088399
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/092986711794088399 |
Print ISSN 0929-8673 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-533X |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Advances in Medicinal Chemistry: From Cancer to Chronic Diseases.
The broad spectrum of the issue will provide a comprehensive overview of emerging trends, novel therapeutic interventions, and translational insights that impact modern medicine. The primary focus will be diseases of global concern, including cancer, chronic pain, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune conditions, providing a broad overview of the advancements in ...read more
Approaches to the treatment of chronic inflammation
Chronic inflammation is a hallmark of numerous diseases, significantly impacting global health. Although chronic inflammation is a hot topic, not much has been written about approaches to its treatment. This thematic issue aims to showcase the latest advancements in chronic inflammation treatment and foster discussion on future directions in this ...read more
Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Non-Infectious Inflammatory Diseases: Focus on Clinical Implications
The Special Issue covers the results of the studies on cellular and molecular mechanisms of non-infectious inflammatory diseases, in particular, autoimmune rheumatic diseases, atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and other age-related disorders such as type II diabetes, cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, etc. Review and research articles as well as methodology papers that summarize ...read more
Chalcogen-modified nucleic acid analogues
Chalcogen-modified nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides have been of great interest to scientific research for many years. The replacement of oxygen in the nucleobase, sugar or phosphate backbone by chalcogen atoms (sulfur, selenium, tellurium) gives these biomolecules unique properties resulting from their altered physical and chemical properties. The continuing interest in ...read more
![](/images/wayfinder.jpg)
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Photobiostimulation on Wound Healing Treatment by ClAlPc-nanoemulsion from a Multiple-Wavelength Portable Light Source on a 3D-Human Stem Cell Dermal Equivalent
Current Medicinal Chemistry Meet Our Editorial Board Member:
Anti-Inflammatory & Anti-Allergy Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Antimicrobial Development in the Era of Emerging Resistance
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Periodontal Muco-Adhesive Formulations for the Treatment of Infectious Periodontal Diseases
Current Drug Delivery Review of the Essential Oil Composition of Iranian Endemic and Native Taxa of Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)
Current Organic Chemistry Emerging Roles of microRNAs in Neural Stem Cells
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Recent Patents on Nanoceramics and Bone Regeneration and Repair
Recent Patents on Regenerative Medicine Epithelial In vitro Differentiation of Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy Volsurf Descriptors to Analyse Anti-HCV and Cytotoxic Activities of Sesquiterpene Lactones from Asteraceae Family
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery The Inhibition of Acetylshikonin on Bacteria and its Trypsin-like Protease and Glycosidic Enzyme may be Essential to Conquer Periodontal Ecological Niche
Letters in Drug Design & Discovery Antibiotic Resistance and Microbiota Response
Current Pharmaceutical Design Leukocytes in Diabetic Retinopathy
Current Diabetes Reviews Patent Selections
Recent Patents on Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Drug Discovery Curcumin Nanofibers: A Novel Approach to Enhance the Anticancer Potential and Bioavailability of Curcuminoids
Current Medicinal Chemistry Effects of Antimicrobial Photosensitizers of Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) to Treat Periodontitis
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology The Current and Future Therapies for Human Osteosarcoma
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Therapeutic Implications of Superoxide Dismutase And Its Importance in Kinase Drug Discovery
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis with flaxseed -derived compound secoisolariciresinol diglucoside
Current Pharmaceutical Design Gestational Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome: Can Obesity and Small, Dense Low Density Lipoproteins be Key Mediators of this Association?
Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology Functions of S100 Proteins
Current Molecular Medicine