Review on antimicrobial peptides from Malaysian amphibian resources: status, research approaches and ways forward

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant threat to human health globally. Diseases caused by AMR are getting more challenging to cure due to the increasing rate of resistance of microbial pathogens. Drugs formulated with antimicrobial peptide (AMP) can be applied to treat these diseases. AMPs are found naturally within organisms, especially amphibians, and is related to the high adaptability of defence mechanisms against various pathogens and predators in the environment. This review focuses on the current status of research works and the different approaches applied to stimulate and collect amphibian secretions, extract and identify peptides, and conduct antimicrobial assays. The concerns of AMR include human health, animal health, economy, and agriculture. This section provides an overview of the potential uses of AMPs from Malaysian amphibians, other than their antibacterial and antifungal properties. The exploration of AMP on other amphibian species and the recommended steps for protein/AMP profiling via mass spectrometry are also included.