The potential of frog skin antimicrobial peptides for development into therapeutically valuable anti-infective agents

Granular glands in the skins of several frog species synthesize peptides with broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi that show promise for use against antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogenic microorganisms. However, their therapeutic potential is limited by their varying degrees of cytotoxicity towards mammalian cells, such as human erythrocytes. This review assesses potential clinical applications of a range of frog skin antimicrobial peptides for use against multidrug-resistant microorganisms, such as the Gram-negative bacteria Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia; the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus; and the opportunistic yeast pathogens Candida spp. Analogs of the naturally occurring peptides containing one or more amino acid substitutions have been developed that retain high antimicrobial potency but are non-hemolytic. Treatment and prevention of acne vulgaris and periodontal disease are identified as areas in which frog skin antimicrobial peptides might find future applications.