Therapeutic Potential of Antimicrobial Peptides

The emergence of pathogens which are resistant or multi-drug resistant to most of the currently available antibiotics is posing an immense burden to the healthcare systems throughout the world. The development of new classes of antibiotics has also suffered a decline since many pharmaceutical companies have gradually abandoned the field. Fortunately, several public–private initiatives to spur the development of new antibiotics have been recently launched. Antimicrobial peptides are thus attracting a renewed interest as potential therapeutic antibiotic candidates. In fact, some of the oldest available antibiotics in the market are cyclic antimicrobial peptides, such as polymyxin B, colistin, gramicidin or bacitracin. However, pharmacological and toxicological problems associated with the systemic use of antimicrobial peptides are slowing their development and drug approval. An overview of the advantages and drawbacks of antimicrobial peptides as antibiotic drugs and a report of compounds that are in development are described.