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

作者：Aurélie H. Benfield, Sónia Troeira Henriques · 发表于：Frontiers in Medical Technology · 年份：2020 · DOI：10.3389/fmedt.2020.610997 · 被引用次数：368 · 研究领域：Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities、Bacteriophages and microbial interactions、Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior

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.