Antimicrobial peptides: a promising frontier to combat antibiotic resistant pathogens

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are varied naturally occurring compounds that are crucial to the innate immune system among several organisms. These peptides are effective against various bacteria, viruses, fungus, and cancer cells. Alternative therapeutic options are becoming more important as drug-resistant diseases become a global concern nowadays. AMPs unique modes of action and benefits over traditional antibiotics make them potential candidates for improving drug-resistant disease treatment. The capacity to target microbial membranes, alter intracellular processes, and bypass resistance systems distinguishes AMPs, making it challenging to develop resistance. This review examines how AMPs can combat drug-resistant bacteria and also, emphasizes on the broad-spectrum antibacterial properties of AMPs and their many mechanisms like, AMPs can permeabilize bacterial membranes, limit biofilm formation, and alter immune responses, making them promising therapeutics for infections that defy conventional treatments. As antibiotic resistance threatens global health, AMPs offer a possible path for next-generation antimicrobials.