Mode-of-Action of Antimicrobial Peptides: Membrane Disruption vs. Intracellular Mechanisms

Aurélie H Benfield; Sónia Troeira Henriques

doi:10.3389/fmedt.2020.610997

Mode-of-Action of Antimicrobial Peptides: Membrane Disruption vs. Intracellular Mechanisms

Front Med Technol. 2020 Dec 11:2:610997. doi: 10.3389/fmedt.2020.610997. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Aurélie H Benfield¹, Sónia Troeira Henriques¹

Affiliation

¹ School of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Health & Biomedical Innovation, and Translational Research Institute, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides are an attractive alternative to traditional antibiotics, due to their physicochemical properties, activity toward a broad spectrum of bacteria, and mode-of-actions distinct from those used by current antibiotics. In general, antimicrobial peptides kill bacteria by either disrupting their membrane, or by entering inside bacterial cells to interact with intracellular components. Characterization of their mode-of-action is essential to improve their activity, avoid resistance in bacterial pathogens, and accelerate their use as therapeutics. Here we review experimental biophysical tools that can be employed with model membranes and bacterial cells to characterize the mode-of-action of antimicrobial peptides.

Keywords: bacterial membrane; biophysical methodologies; cellular uptake; peptide therapeutics; peptide-lipid interactions.

Publication types

Review