Antimicrobial Peptides and Antibacterial Antibodies for the Elimination of ESKAPE Pathogens

ESKAPE pathogens, responsible for hospital-acquired infections, pose a global threat due to their multi-drug resistance attained by excessive and inappropriate usage of antimicrobial products. Therefore, the unearthing of a novel therapy for the drug resistance infections acquired by ESKAPE pathogens has been painstaking. To date, both the anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) and antibacterial antibodies have been promising therapeutics against the ESKAPE pathogens more than the conventional broad-spectrum antibiotics that develop resistance. AMPs are the first line of innate immune mechanisms towards various microbes. AMPs act as potential therapeutics due to their unique mechanism of action, which involves disrupting bacterial membranes and lower resistance development compared to conventional antibiotics. On the other side, antibacterial antibodies are proteins that can precisely target and neutralize bacterial pathogens. Antimicrobial antibodies have the potential to recognize and bind with specific bacterial antigens, which trigger opsonization or complement activation, which can facilitate bacterial clearance from the body. Moreover, antimicrobial agents can prevent bacterial attachment to the host cells or inhibit bacterial virulence factors. Several recent studies of AMPs (AMP LL-37) combined with antimicrobial antibodies (vancomycin) showed the synergistic potential against Staphylococcus MRSA strains. Similarly, the recent patented study of a monoclonal antibody targeting Klebsiella pneumoniae was shown to be effective in reducing the bacterial burden and improving survival in mouse models. Despite both AMPs and antibacterial antibodies being promising approaches for the elimination of these pathogens, further in-depth studies are needed to optimize and improve their pharmacokinetics profile toward increased efficacy and safety for clinical usage. In conclusion, the development of novel AMPs is indispensable to fend off the threat posed by ESKAPE pathogens.