Clinical and Therapeutic Potential of Bacillus subtilis Antimicrobial Peptides

The bioactive peptides produced by Bacillus subtilis have garnered significant attention for their diverse bioactivities and promising therapeutic applications. These peptides exhibit broad-spectrum activity against bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections, making them potent candidates for treating drug-resistant pathogens. Further, these peptides exhibited anticancer activity by selectively targeting cancer cells, inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting tumor cell migration and invasion. Beyond their direct antimicrobial and anticancer properties, B. subtilis peptides also possess immunomodulatory effects, enhancing host immune responses and reducing inflammation. This dual role in both pathogen elimination and immune regulation expands their therapeutic potential, particularly for use in chronic infections and wound healing. To prevent these peptides from hydrolysis, biomaterial and liposome delivery systems have been designed to improve the stability and bioavailability of B. subtilis peptides. The key challenge in peptide-based drug discovery is the accurate prediction of peptide functionality and stability, given the complexity of peptide interactions with biological targets. Machine learning algorithms can be employed to design bioactive peptides with optimized therapeutic properties and can accelerate the identification of novel bioactive peptides with enhanced efficacy and specificity. Overall, this chapter demonstrates diverse mechanisms of action, therapeutic applications, immunomodulatory effects, and delivery systems for B. subtilis peptides.