Antimicrobial peptides as future therapeutics? Rapid development of bacterial resistance to the most conventional antibiotics has resulted in an intensive search for alternative antimicrobial agents. Antimicrobial peptides which are part of the innate defense system of practically all living organisms represent promising compounds for developing drugs in the fight against resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides kill bacteries by the disruption of their membrane which is substantially different mechanism from that of conventional antibiotics. We describe remarkable group of cationic helical antimicrobial peptides identified in the venom of hymenopteran insects.
Lucifensin - the key player of larval therapy. The beneficial use of fly larvae in healing chronic infected wounds has been known since ancient times, but reintroduction of standard, rutine maggot therapy in clinical practice at hundreds of hospitals around the world dates back only to the 1990s. The application of Lucilia sericata larvae into infected wound results in removal of necrotic tissue, elimination of infecting microorganisms, disinfection of the wound, and stimulation of wound granulation and repair. Many researchers have focused on the study of antimicrobial compounds secreted/excreted by maggots to the wound. The antimicrobial peptide of larval immune system named lucinfensin secreted/excreted to the wound was for the first time identified by scientists of the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic. Discovery of lucinfensin contributes to the understanding of healing principles of larval therapy.