Bacterial resistance is an emergency public health problem worldwide, compounded by the ability of bacteria to form biofilms, mainly in seriously ill hospitalized patients. The World Health Organization has published a list of priority bacteria that should be studied and, in turn, has encouraged the development of new drugs. Herein, we explain the importance of studying new molecules such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with potential against multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) bacteria and focus on the inhibition of biofilm formation. This review describes the main causes of antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation, as well as the main and potential AMP applications against these bacteria. Our results suggest that the new biomacromolecules to be discovered and studied should focus on this group of dangerous and highly infectious bacteria. Alternative molecules such as AMPs could contribute to eradicating biofilm proliferation by MDR/XDR bacteria; this is a challenging undertaking with promising prospects.
Figure 1. Basic and general aspects of biofilm formation (upper section) and brief description of the mechanisms action of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) (lower section).
The neutralization or disassembly of lipopolysaccharides in these strategies uses AMPs, which can penetrate through the lipid bilayer, since they have a hydrophobic side and a hydrophilic side, allowing their solubilization in an aquatic environment [63][11]. AMPs are able to infiltrate the biofilm and cause bacterial death [72][20] due to their ability to electrostatically bind to lipopolysaccharides (LPS), involving interaction between two cationic amino acids (lysine and arginine) and their respective heads of groups, forming a complex. This complex destabilizes lipid groups due to the formation of multiple pores, impairing the integrity of the bacterial cell membrane [73][21]. This is due to the fact that the complex is stabilized through hydrophobic interactions between the hydrophobic amino acids of the peptide and the fatty acyl chains of LPS [63][11].
AMPs are considered an excellent alternative against resistant bacteria, in comparison with conventional antibiotics. This is due to their non-specific mechanism (ability to reach a variety of sites), which reduces the chances of resistance development. In addition, some AMPs have great anti-multi-resistant biofilm activity, interfering with the initiation of biofilm formation (preventing bacteria from adhering to surfaces) or destroying mature biofilms (killing the bacteria present or causing them to detach) [74][22].
According to Wang et al. [99][23], AMPs may have the ability to inhibit the expansion of biofilms, and not always eliminating all microorganisms such as Nal-P-113 against Porphyromonas gingivalis W83 biofilms formation; therefore, the authorscholars suggest its application with other drugs currently used for the oral treatment of this potentially virulent bacterium. Likewise, some studies report that their synergistic or combined effect could improve with the inclusion or structural modification of AMP; for example, chimeric peptide-Titanium conjugate (TiBP1-spacer-AMP y TiBP2-spacer-AMP) against Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Escherichia coli [100][24], A3-APO (proline-rich AMP) combined with imipenem against ESKAPE pathogens, biofilm-forming bacteria and in vivo murine model [101,102][25][26]. In addition, it was reported that modifications in the C terminal with fatty acids could further improve the specificity and activity of AMPs against superbugs and their respective biofilms [103,104][27][28]. Another study revealed that the addition of a hydrazide and using perfluoroaromatic (tetrafluorobenzene and octofluorobiphenyl) linkers enhance the antibacterial and antibiofilm activity demonstrated against MDR and XDR A. baumannii [105][29]. Table 31 shows promising applications of AMPs against biofilm formation.
| Peptide | Sequence and Properties | Antimicrobial Activity | Highlights | Reference | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Myxinidin2 Myxinidin3 | KIKWILKYWKWS RIRWILRYWRWS | P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, | and | L. monocytogenes | Effects against a wide range of bacteria, with its mechanism of action based on its ability to insert into bacterial membranes to produce an ion channel or pore that disrupts membrane function. | [106] | [30] | ||
| Colistin (colistin–imipenem and colistin–ciprofloxacin) | ALYKKLLKKLLKSAKKLG | Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli | and | Klebsiella pneumoniae | Bactericidal mechanism by a detergent-like effect. Recommended as a last choice in the treatment of infections caused by MDR Gram-negative bacteria because it rarely causes bacterial resistance. | [107] | [31] | ||
| S4(1–16)M4Ka | ALWKTLLKKVLKAAAK-NH2 | P. fluorescens | Greater antimicrobial effect and less toxicity than its parent peptide (dermaseptin S4) | [108] | [32] | ||||
| Pexiganan | GIGKFLKKAKKFGKAFVKILKK-NH2 | S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, E. coli | and | P. aeruginosa | Weak anti-biofilm agent against structures formed on CL. | [109] | [33] | ||
| Citropin 1.1 | GLFDVIKKVASVIGGL-NH2 | Potent anti-biofilm agent against | S. aureus | strains. | |||||
| Temporin A: | FLPLIGRVLSGIL-NH2 | Strong activity against vancomycin-resistant strains. | |||||||
| Palm-KK-NH2 | Palm-KK-NH2 (Palm–hexadecanoic acid residue) | Effective against most strains in the form of a biofilm. Activity potentiated when combined with standard antibiotics. | |||||||
| Palm-RR-NH2 | Palm-RR-NH2 (Palm–hexadecanoic acid residue) | Efficiency potentiated when combined with standard antibiotics. | |||||||
| HB AMP | KKVVFWVKFK + HAp-binding heptapeptide (HBP7) | S. mutans, L. acidophilus | and | A. viscosus | Adsorption capacity on the dental surface. | [110] | [34] | ||
| KSLW | KKVVFWVKFK | Promising peptide for oral use as it is resistant to the gastrointestinal tract and stable in human saliva. | |||||||
| TiBP1-GGG-AMP | RPRENRGRERGKGGGLKLLKKLLKLLKKL | S. mutans, S. epidermidis, | and | E. coli. | Bifunctional peptide capable of binding to titanium materials, enabling its use in biomaterials. Antibacterial functionality. | [100] | [24] | ||
| BA250-C10 | RWRWRWK(C | 10 | ) | P. aeruginosa | Great activity when used in synergism with two conventional anti-pseudomonas antibiotics to inhibit the planktonic growth of four strains of | P. aeruginosa. | [111] | [35] | |
| D-HB43 | FAKLLAKLAKKLL | Methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains | High cytotoxic and hemolytic effect. | [112] | [36] | ||||
| D-Ranalexin | FLGGLIKIVPAMICAVTKKC | Methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains | Effective in dose-dependent biofilm killing, but high cytotoxic and hemolytic effect. | ||||||
| FK13-a1 | WKRIVRRIKRWLR-NH2 | Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, | MDR | P. aeruginosa | and | vancomycin-resistant E. faecium | Mechanism of action based on the induction of cytoplasmic membrane potential loss, permeabilization, and rupture. | [113] | [37] |
| FK13-a7 | WKRWVRRWKRWLR-NH2 | Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, | MDR | P. aeruginosa | and | vancomycin-resistant E. faecium | Mechanism of action based on the induction of cytoplasmic membrane potential loss, permeabilization, and rupture. | ||
| KR-12-a5 | KRIVKLILKWLR-NH2 | E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. typhimurium, S. aureus, B. subtilis, S. epidermidis | This peptide and its analogs kill microbial cells by inducing loss of cytoplasmic membrane potential, permeabilization, and disruption. | [114] | [38] | ||||
| AMP2 | KRRWRIWLV | E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, E. faecalis, S. epidermidis | 76% reduction of the biofilm area. | [115] | [39] | ||||
| GH12 | GLLWHLLHHLLH-NH2 | S. mutans | Antimicrobial activity against cariogenic bacteria and its biofilms in vitro. | [116] | [40] | ||||
| TP4 | FIHHIIGGLFSAGKAIHRLIRRRRR | P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, S. aureus | Peptide driven into helix shape by an LPS-like surfactant before binding to the target. | [117] | [41] | ||||
| LyeTxI | IWLTALKFLGKNLGKHLALKQQLAKL | F. nucleatum, P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans | Active against periodontopathic bacteria. Rapid bactericidal effect, prevention of biofilm development. Can be used in the dental field. | [118] | [42] | ||||
| Esc(1–21) | GIFSKLAGKKIKNLLISGLKG-NH2 | P. aeruginosa | Mechanism of action causes membrane thinning. | [119] | [43] | ||||
| L12 | LKKLLKKLLKKL-NH2 | P. aeruginosa, K. pneumoniae, S. aureus, E. coli | Mechanism of action based on pore formation, inducing rapid permeabilization of bacterial membranes, inhibition of biofilm formation, disruption of drug-resistant biofilms, and suppression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators, even at low peptide concentrations. | [120] | [44] | ||||
| W12 | WKKWWKKWWKKW-NH2 | Suppression of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators, even at low peptide concentrations. | |||||||
| WLBU2 | RRWVRRVRRVWRRVVRVVRRWVRR | E. faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa | and | Enterobacter | species | Mechanism of action based on preventing bacterial adhesion and interfering with gene expression. | [121,122] | [45][46] | |
| LL37 | LLGDFFRKSKEKIGKEFKRIVQRIKDFLRNLVPRTES | E. faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa | and | Enterobacter | species | One of the most important human AMPs that play roles in the defense against local and systemic infections. Bactericidal mechanism against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria based on phospholipid-dependent bacterial membrane disruption. | [121,123] | [45][47] | |
| SAAP-148 | LKRVWKRVFKLLKRYWRQLKKPVR | E. faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa | and | Enterobacter | species | Promising peptide fights difficult-to-treat infections due to its broad antimicrobial activity against MDR, biofilm, and persistent bacteria. | [124] | [48] | |
| WAM-1 | KRGFGKKLRKRLKKFRNSIKKRLKNFNVVIPIPLPG | A. baumannii | This peptide originates from LL37 AMPs and is more effective in inhibiting biofilm dispersion than its parent peptide. | [125] | [49] | ||||
| H4 | KFKKLFKKLSPVIGKEFKRIVERIKRFLR | S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. pneumoniae, E. coli, E. faecium, K. pneumoniae, | and | P. aeruginosa | Insignificant rates of toxicity to eukaryotic cells. | [126] | [50] | ||
| RWRWRWA-(Bpa) | RWRWRWA-(4-benzophenylalanine) | P. aeruginosa | It targets the bacterial lipid membrane, but there is no specific receptor. It only affects a range of cellular processes. | [127] | [51] | ||||
| Pse-T2 | LNALKKVFQKIHEAIKLI-NH2 | P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, E. coli | Mechanism of action based on the ability to disrupt the outer and inner membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and to bind DNA. | [128] | [52] | ||||
| Magainin 2 | GIGKFLHSAKKFGKAFVGEIMNS-NH2 | A. baumannii strains | Strong antibacterial activity against | A. baumannii, | including MDR strains. Non-toxic to mammalian cells. | [129] | [53] | ||
| Magainin I | GIGKFLHSAGKFGKAFVGEIMKS | E. coli strains | Demands more energy metabolism, translational processes, and bacterial defense in | E. coli | strains when present. | [130] | [54] | ||
| TC19 | LRCMCIKWWSGKHPK | B. subtilis strains | Promising peptide against Gram-positive bacteria, as its activity on the membrane interferes with several essential cellular processes, leading to bacterial death. | [131] | [55] | ||||
| TC84 | LRAMCIKWWSGKHPK | Promising peptide against Gram-positive bacteria, as its activity on the membrane interferes with several essential cellular processes, leading to bacterial death. | |||||||
| BP2 | GKWKLFKKAFKKFLKILAC | B. subtilis strains | Promising peptide against Gram-positive bacteria, as its activity by perturbation of the membrane interferes with several essential cellular processes, leading to bacterial death. | [132] | [56] | ||||
| Nisin A | MSTKDFNLDLVSVSKKDSGASPRITSISLCTPGCKTGALMGCNMKTATCHCSIHVSK | B. subtilis spores | Application as an adjuvant to antibiotic peptides in providing a bactericidal coating for the spores. | [131,133] | [55][57] |