Understanding bacterial resistance to antimicrobial peptides: From the surface to deep inside

Biochim Biophys Acta. 2015 Nov;1848(11 Pt B):3078-88. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2015.02.017. Epub 2015 Feb 24.

Abstract

Resistant bacterial infections are a major health problem in many parts of the world. The major commercial antibiotic classes often fail to combat common bacteria. Although antimicrobial peptides are able to control bacterial infections by interfering with microbial metabolism and physiological processes in several ways, a large number of cases of resistance to antibiotic peptide classes have also been reported. To gain a better understanding of the resistance process various technologies have been applied. Here we discuss multiple strategies by which bacteria could develop enhanced antimicrobial peptide resistance, focusing on sub-cellular regions from the surface to deep inside, evaluating bacterial membranes, cell walls and cytoplasmic metabolism. Moreover, some high-throughput methods for antimicrobial resistance detection and discrimination are also examined. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Bacterial Resistance to Antimicrobial Peptides.

Keywords: Antimicrobial peptides; Bacterial membranes; Bacterial resistance; Cell walls; Mass spectrometry.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / therapeutic use
  • Bacteria / drug effects
  • Bacteria / metabolism*
  • Bacteria / pathogenicity
  • Bacterial Infections / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Bacterial Infections / prevention & control
  • Cell Membrane / metabolism
  • Cell Wall / metabolism
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • High-Throughput Screening Assays
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods
  • Microbial Viability
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides