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Microorganisms
Special Issues
Advances in Antimicrobial Peptides
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Advances in Antimicrobial Peptides

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Antimicrobial Agents and Resistance".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 3135

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Pedro F.N. Souza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, Brazil
2. Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60430-160, Brazil
Interests: anti-bacterial agents; polypeptide antibiotic agent; antimicrobial cationic peptides

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue focuses on the growing significance of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as promising agents in the fight against infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. AMPs, naturally occurring molecules found across various organisms, exhibit a broad spectrum of activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi, and even cancer cells. As traditional antibiotics face diminishing efficacy due to rising resistance, AMPs offer a novel alternative for therapeutic interventions.

This Special Issue seeks to highlight cutting-edge research and advancements in the field of antimicrobial peptides. We invite original research articles, reviews, and perspectives that explore the following topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

  • Mechanisms of action: Investigations into the molecular mechanisms underlying the antimicrobial activities of AMPs and their interactions with microbial membranes and intracellular targets.
  • Novel AMPs discovery: Identification and characterization of new antimicrobial peptides from natural sources, including plants, animals, and microorganisms.
  • Design and engineering of AMPs: Studies focusing on the design, optimization, and synthetic production of AMPs to enhance their stability, specificity, and antimicrobial potency.
  • Therapeutic applications: Exploration of AMPs as therapeutic agents for treating infections, including their potential roles in combating drug-resistant pathogens and biofilm-associated infections.
  • AMPs in immunomodulation: Research on the immunomodulatory properties of AMPs and their ability to regulate immune responses in host defense mechanisms.
  • Clinical trials and applications: Updates on clinical trials involving AMPs and their application in medicine, agriculture, and food safety.
  • AMPs and nanotechnology: Integration of AMPs with nanotechnology for the development of novel antimicrobial materials and drug delivery systems.

Dr. Pedro F.N. Souza
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Microorganisms is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)
  • drug-resistant pathogens
  • membrane disruption
  • immunomodulation
  • biofilm inhibition
  • peptide design and engineering
  • therapeutic applications
  • synthetic peptides
  • host defense peptides
  • nanotechnology-based AMPs

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 4124 KiB  
Article
Reducing Functional Domain of Histatin 5 Improves Antifungal Activity and Prevents Proteolytic Degradation
by Carolina R. Zambom, Gabriel Bernandes, Fauller Henrique da Fonseca, Gabriela Vieira Silva Zolin, Mariana de Melo Faceto Portella, Lina Maria Marin, Edson Crusca, Ed S. Krol, Walter L. Siqueira and Saulo Santesso Garrido
Microorganisms 2025, 13(5), 1091; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13051091 - 8 May 2025
Viewed by 284
Abstract
Histatin 5 (Hst5) is an antifungal peptide (AFP) naturally produced by parotid glands with strong activity against Candida albicans. One of its mechanisms of action is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside the C. albicans cells. Despite being an important [...] Read more.
Histatin 5 (Hst5) is an antifungal peptide (AFP) naturally produced by parotid glands with strong activity against Candida albicans. One of its mechanisms of action is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside the C. albicans cells. Despite being an important peptide for the human innate immune response, its activity is reduced or inactivated by proteolytic degradation caused by salivary enzymes. To overcome this barrier, we used solid phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) to modify the Hst5 amino acid sequence improving its antifungal action and minimizing its degradation. We synthesized five peptides, three of which were based on the Hst5 functional domain. We determined that the smallest peptides (8WH5, 7WH5 and 6WH5) demonstrated the greatest antifungal action against C. albicans, including one fluconazole-resistant strain. Besides that, cationic-PAGE and HPLC assays showed that the degradation in saliva was slower for the smaller peptides than for 0WHst5 and WP113. Furthermore, 8WH5, 7WH5 and 6WH5 were found in the samples even after 8 h in whole saliva, while 0WHst5 and WP113 completely disappear after 1.5 h. Finally, we found that the smaller peptides were less fragmented than the 0WHst5 and WP113, so they were the smallest fragments of Hst5 to preserve its antifungal action with reduced degradation in whole saliva. Thus, they can be considered promising molecules for the treatment of C. albicans in the oral cavity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Antimicrobial Peptides)
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23 pages, 8712 KiB  
Article
A Tachyplesin Antimicrobial Peptide from Theraphosidae Spiders with Potent Antifungal Activity Against Cryptococcus neoformans
by Brenda B. Michira, Yi Wang, James Mwangi, Kexin Wang, Demeke Asmamaw, Dawit Adisu Tadese, Jinai Gao, Mehwish Khalid, Qiu-Min Lu, Ren Lai and Juan Li
Microorganisms 2024, 12(12), 2648; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12122648 - 20 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1491
Abstract
The venoms of Theraphosidae spiders have evolved into diverse natural pharmacopeias through selective pressures. Cryptococcus neoformans is a global health threat that frequently causes life-threatening meningitis and fungemia, particularly in immunocompromised patients. In this study, we identify a novel anti-C. neoformans peptide, [...] Read more.
The venoms of Theraphosidae spiders have evolved into diverse natural pharmacopeias through selective pressures. Cryptococcus neoformans is a global health threat that frequently causes life-threatening meningitis and fungemia, particularly in immunocompromised patients. In this study, we identify a novel anti-C. neoformans peptide, QS18 (QCFKVCFRKRCFTKCSRS), from the venom gland of China’s native spider species Chilobrachys liboensis by utilizing bioinformatic tools. QS18 shares over 50% sequence similarity with tachyplesin peptides, previously identified only in horseshoe crab hemocytes, expanding the known repertoire of the tachyplesin family to terrestrial arachnids. The oxidative folding of QS18 notably enhances its antifungal activity and stability, resulting in a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.4 µM. The antimicrobial mechanism of QS18 involves cell membrane disruption. QS18 exhibits less than 5% hemolysis in human erythrocytes, indicating microbial selectivity and a favorable safety profile for therapeutic use. Furthermore, mouse model studies highlight QS18’s ability as an antifungal agent with notable anti-inflammatory activity. Our study demonstrates QS18 as both a promising template for spider venom peptide research and a novel candidate for the development of peptide antifungals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Antimicrobial Peptides)
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Review

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12 pages, 2696 KiB  
Review
Pandemic Events Caused by Bacteria Throughout Human History and the Risks of Antimicrobial Resistance Today
by Pedro Filho Noronha Souza, Nicholas Silva dos Santos Filho, João Lucas Timbó Mororó, Daiane Maria da Silva Brito, Ana Beatriz da Lima, Felipe Pantoja Mesquita and Raquel Carvalho Montenegro
Microorganisms 2025, 13(2), 457; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms13020457 - 19 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 963
Abstract
During human history, many pandemic events have threatened and taken many human lives over the years. The deadliest outbreaks were caused by bacteria such as Yersinia pestis. Nowadays, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria is a huge problem for the public worldwide, threatening [...] Read more.
During human history, many pandemic events have threatened and taken many human lives over the years. The deadliest outbreaks were caused by bacteria such as Yersinia pestis. Nowadays, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria is a huge problem for the public worldwide, threatening and taking many lives each year. The present work aimed to gather current evidence published in scientific literature that addresses AMR risks. A literature review was conducted using the following descriptors: antimicrobial resistance, AMR, bacteria, and Boolean operators. The results showed that antimicrobial-resistant genes and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in organisms cause critical infectious diseases and are responsible for the infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). This review emphasizes the importance of this topic. It sheds light on the risk of reemerging infections and their relationship with AMR. In addition, it discusses the mechanisms and actions of antibiotics and the mechanisms behind the development of resistance by bacteria, focusing on demonstrating the importance of the search for new drugs, for which research involving peptides is fundamental. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Antimicrobial Peptides)
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