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Review - Vol. 26, 2020 |
Venom peptides in association with standard drugs: a novel strategy for combating antibiotic resistance - an overview
Ashish K. Lamiyan1, Ramkesh Dalal1, Neelima R. Kumar1
1 Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
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.
Keywords: Antibiotic resistance Antimicrobials Venom
Correspondence: ashishlamiyan@gmail.com
Received: 03 February 2020; Accepted: 08 July 2020; Published online: 10 August 2020