Venom peptides in association with standard drugs: a novel strategy for combating antibiotic resistance - an overview

Abstract

Development of antibiotic resistance that leads to resurgence of bacterial infections poses a threat to disease-free existence for humankind and is a challenge for the welfare of the society at large. Despite research efforts directed towards treatment of pathogens, antibiotics within new improved classes have not emerged for years, a fact largely attributable to the pharmacological necessities compelling drug development. Recent reversion to the use of natural products alone or in combination with standard drugs has opened up new vistas for alternative therapeutics. The success of this strategy is evident in the sudden interest in plant extracts as additives/synergists for treatment of maladies caused by drug-resistant bacterial strains. Animal venoms have long fascinated scientists as sources of pharmacologically active components that can be exploited for the treatment of specific ailments and should be promoted further to clinical trials. In the present review, we outline the scope and possible methods for the applications of animal venoms in combination with commercial antibiotics to offer a better treatment approach against antibiotic-resistant infections.

Biologically Active Peptides from Venoms: Applications in Antibiotic Resistance, Cancer, and Beyond

“…This characteristic not only allows their use as a single treatment but also the exploration of synergistic activities with different approved drugs. These peptides can act as adjuvants for compounds that have their target within the intracellular environment, allowing them to reach their active site efficiently, and increasing the effectiveness of the treatment by attacking the infection or illness through different mechanisms of action [ 86 , 87 ]. HYL, an α-helical antimicrobial peptide secreted within the venom of the solitary bee Hylaeus signatus, is an example of this synergistic activity.…”

Pneumonia Associada à Ventilação Mecânica (PAVM) assistida pela quitosana

“…Os agentes apresentam técnicas para combater com sucesso por intermédio de distintos mecanismos, integrando alteração em seus genes, uma opção de sobrevivência aceita por microrganismos patogênicos e não patogênicos. Os altos níveis de uso regular e acentuado de antibióticos comerciais dificultam a conjectura e prejudica a efetividade dos medicamentos produzidos pela indústria farmacêutica (Lamiyan et al, 2020).…”

“…Desde os tempos antigos, o homem usufrui de materiais naturais para terapias medicamentosas. Mediante o abrupto acréscimo da resistência, os empenhos científicos processados são redirecionados para a pesquisa de possibilidades da natureza que sejam possantes, porém limitando sua toxicidade (Lamiyan et al, 2020). Um elevado predomínio de patógenos respiratórios, como Acinetobacter ssp e Pseudomonas spp., é possível detectar na saliva e no biofilme dentário de hospitalizados.…”

“…Com a proliferação do desse, os microorganismos tornam-se resistentes as terapias medicamentosas e elevam a taxa de morbimortalidade, logo opera como barreira para impossibilitar a penetração do fármaco e do organismo reconhecer o invasor (Lima et al, 2017). Ademais, com a aplicação de antibióticos exacerbadamente, demonstra efeitos colaterais e propicia a resistência (Lamiyan et al, 2020).…”

Anti-inflammatory activities of arthropod peptides: a systematic review

“…However, arthropod venoms as sources of new pharmaceutically functional molecules are yet to be deeply explored [ 9 ]. Many arthropod venom peptides represent an opportunity by which venom components could be converted into “pharmaceutical gold” [ 10 , 11 , 12 ]. The production of a drug derived from venoms also includes the characterization of synthetic or recombinant peptide forms.…”