The development of antimicrobial peptides as an approach to prevention of antibiotic resistance

In recent years, the widespread use of conventional antibiotics has led to many microbial pathogens becoming resistant to these antibiotics. Therefore, the development of novel and alternative therapeutic strategies for controlling and reducing the effects of these pathogens is urgently needed. Studies have shown that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and proteins are important members of the host defense system in eukaryotes. These peptides are potent agents with broad-spectrum activity against many Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In this review, we discuss the diversity, the broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and related properties of AMPs that could be exploited for their application as potential drug candidates in therapeutic strategies against multiresistant pathogens. Copyright (C) 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.