File:Antibacterial properties of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) - Fig-1-2x.jpg

English: Antibacterial properties of antimicrobial peptides (AMP). The bactericidal properties are one of the main characteristics of AMP, its lytic capacity being one of the best-studied mechanisms of action. However, other targets have been identified in which they act as nucleic acids, proteins, or the divisome machinery. Unfortunately, as with other bactericidal agents, they also induce resistance. When AMPs work at sub-inhibitory concentrations, they exhibit anti-virulence properties, reducing the production of various factors that cause damage, but without affecting the viability of the bacteria. One of the targets is the inhibition of quorum sensing (QS), a general regulator of virulence. Furthermore, AMPs inhibit bacterial secretion systems, inactivate toxins, and exhibit adjuvant properties, restoring the activity of antibiotics on resistant strains. In the anti-biofilm activity, AMPs can act by bactericidal mechanisms or anti-virulence by inhibiting QS. An ideal property for anti-virulence therapies is that they do not generate resistance or are expected to do so to a lesser degree. MIC = minimum inhibitory concentration.