About this Research Topic
The main impediments recognized for the therapeutic use of AMPs are their high manufacturing cost, their unsatisfactory pharmacodynamics, and pharmacokinetics parameters as well as, for some peptides, their cytotoxicity and the risk of immunogenicity. However, some AMPs have performed well in clinical trials, but have not been approved by regulatory bodies. An obvious example is the topical formulation of Magainin, which demonstrated comparable efficacy to conventional systemic antibiotics for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers. The FDA did not approve Magainin because it did not demonstrate superiority over conventional treatment, not because it was unsafe or ineffective.
Many AMPs that have reached clinical development have been isolated from microorganisms or are derived from AMP’s firstly isolated from microorganisms. AMP discovery from microorganisms has it’s own impediments and is particularly marked by the isolation of previously known compounds.
New approaches have been proposed to facilitate access to the native biodiversity of microorganisms and, therefore, potentially news AMPs. Approaches combining advances in genomic and transcriptomic technologies have also enabled rapid dereplication in AMP discovery. Biological synthesis and the downstream purification processes are being improved. New strategies have also emerged to counteract the impediments limiting the use of AMPs as therapeutic options. A notable effort has been given to (i) antimicrobial peptidomimetics that display extended stability in the presence of biological matrices (ii) AMP delivery systems (e.g. nanoparticles, polymeric materials).
The present Research Topic aims to publish articles demonstrating and seeking to address the gap between AMP discovery and AMP use as therapeutics. By exposing and gathering all new research and expert opinions on the AMP discovery process and their use as therapeutics, we hope that this Research Topic will inform future development of a rational pipeline of AMPs as a new generation of antibiotics and one of the few promising solutions to tackle AMR.
Keywords: Antimicrobial Peptides, Drug Development, Microbial Resistance, SAR Studies, Peptide Production
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.