Antimicrobial Peptides: A New Hope Against Antibiotic-Resistant Staphylococcus Species
Subject Areas : microbiology
1 - Department of Microbiology, Shahr-e-Qods Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
Keywords: Staphylococcus , Antibiotic Resistance , Antimicrobial Peptides , Biofilm,
Abstract :
Species of Staphylococcus such as S.aureus, S.epidermidis and S.saprophyticus are of significant clinical relevance to humans. Staphylococcus aureus isolates universally exhibit resistance to conventional beta-lactams and many have developed resistance to beta-lactamase-resistant penicillins as well. Additionally, these strains often carry resistance genes that confer immunity to MLS antibiotics, which include macrolides, lincosamides and streptogramins. In the 1950s, strains of Staphylococcus aureus resistant to aminoglycosides began to appear. More recently, resistance to quinolones has rapidly increased among methicillin-resistant strains through chromosomal mutations. The antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) investigated in this study, including human β-defensin-1 peptide, human β-defensin-3, staphylococcin, logdonin, WR12, D-IK8, and Tet21, are recognized as a promising new class of antibiotics that primarily disrupt the bacterial cell membrane.The exploration of AMPs is driven by the critical need for novel antimicrobial agents. Due to their mechanism of action targeting the cell membrane, AMPs hold considerable promise for therapeutic applications. Some naturally occurring AMPs may also demonstrate efficacy against these pathogens and could potentially be used synergistically with traditional antibiotics.
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