ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES FROM Bombyx mori: PHARMACEUTICAL CONTRIBUTIONS, APPLICATIONS, AND RECENT DISCOVERIES

Rakesh Yethi Raj*, Mallaiah Shivashankar

The investigation of alternative therapeutic agents beyond traditional antibiotics has become necessary due to the rapid escalation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Due to their broad-spectrum activity and decreased potential to cause resistance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), essential elements of innate immunity, have drawn a lot of attention. Cecropins, attacins, moricins, gloverins, defensins, and ponericin-like peptides are among the structurally varied AMPs that are abundantly found in the silkworm Bombyx mori. Through membrane disruption, intracellular targeting, and immunomodulatory mechanisms, these peptides demonstrate strong antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiparasitic, and anticancer properties. The Toll and Imd signalling pathways that control AMP synthesis are highlighted in this review, which offers a thorough overview of B. mori's immune architecture. A summary of current AMP isolation, purification, and structural characterization techniques is provided, emphasizing developments in proteomic, chromatographic, and bioinformatic techniques that have sped up the discovery of new peptides. Major AMP families' structural diversity and functional specificity are examined critically in light of their potential applications in medicine, especially in the fight against infections linked to biofilms and multidrug-resistant pathogens. The therapeutic potential of AMPs derived from silkworms has been improved by recent developments in peptide engineering, recombinant expression systems, and nano formulation techniques. Proteolytic instability, pharmacokinetic constraints, cytotoxicity issues, and large-scale production, however, continue to be major barriers to clinical translation. All things considered, Bombyx mori AMPs are a flexible and sustainable bioresource for the creation of next-generation antibiotics. To convert these naturally occurring defense molecules into therapeutically effective treatments, integrative research integrating molecular biology, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sciences will be crucial.