BACTERIOPHAGES AND ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES AS STRATEGIES TO COMBAT BACTERIAL RESISTANCE: ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

Abstract

The rise of bacterial resistance to bacteria represents a serious threat to public health, which has led to the development of innovative strategies to contain it. This narrative literature review aims to highlight the use of bacteriophages and antimicrobial peptides as promising strategies to combat bacterial resistance, demonstrating the challenges and possibilities of each technique. Bacteriophage therapy uses the application of lytic phages to the patient, usually through cocktails of 20 to 30 phages that multiply naturally and have a precise and effective effect, despite presenting some challenges to their use, such as the host's immune response. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are also a promising alternative, having the potential to act on bacterial membranes. In addition, their combined use with antibiotics can contribute to the reduction of bacterial resistance, increasing the effectiveness of treatments and overcoming common limitations associated with AMPs, such as instability, toxicity and fragility. Despite existing barriers, these techniques have the potential to make disease treatments increasingly safer and more effective, and their development can significantly reduce bacterial resistance.