Natural and synthetic antimicrobial peptides against anaerobic bacteria: A review of activities and mechanisms of action.

Anaerobic bacteria cause a wide range of infections, varying from mild to severe, whether localized, implant-associated, or invasive, often leading to high morbidity and mortality. These infections are challenging to manage due to antimicrobial resistance against common antibiotics such as carbapenems and nitroimidazoles. The empirical use of antibiotics has contributed to the emergence of resistant organisms, making the identification and development of new antibiotics increasingly difficult. This highlights the need for adjuvant treatments. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have garnered attention as promising agents in combating resistant bacteria. Researchers are interested in AMPs due to their broad-spectrum activity, multiple mechanisms of action, and reduced likelihood of inducing resistance. Moreover, AMPs can enhance the effectiveness of conventional antibiotics through synergistic effects. Researchers suggest that AMPs could play a valuable role in the development of new drugs targeting anaerobic pathogens. Exploring the properties and functions of these peptides represents a significant step toward alternative therapies. This paper reviews natural and synthetic AMPs derived from various sources that target different cellular components and functions of anaerobic bacteria, including Actinomyces, Fusobacterium, Bacteroides, Porphyromonas, Prevotella, Clostridium, Clostridioides, Lactobacillus, Peptostreptococcus, Propionibacterium, Bifidobacterium, Veillonella, and Tannerella. The described AMPs act on the cell membrane, peptidoglycan, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), biofilms, ion channels, toxins, DNA, transcription, and translation. The data indicate that these peptides demonstrate significant potential against anaerobes, presenting a promising strategy for combating antibiotic resistance.