Antimicrobial Peptides: Could it be an Alternative to Antibiotics in Boar Semen Extender?

Abstract

Since antimicrobial resistance is a major global issue, "One Health" approaches such as the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were developed as an alternative antimicrobial agent which might be used in pig farms to reduce or replace non-rational antibiotics usage. Although AMPs showed several effects on antimicrobial agents, including against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses, as well as effects on host immunity, the ability to eliminate bacteria while providing the minimum amount of damage to the host cell is a particularly outstanding characteristic. Two major mechanisms of action of AMPs include membrane-active and intracellular-active. During the past decade, many AMPs have been tested for a replacement of antibiotics in boar semen extenders. Many studies reported the potential for using AMPs, whether as single or cocktail AMPs; however, their antibacterial effectiveness depends on the concentration and incubation time. Using AMPs also showed promising results on boar sperm quality and fertility tests on the pig farm. This review article discusses the use of AMPs as antibacterial agents for supplementation in boar semen extenders and provides future perspectives on the development of AMPs and how to use them properly.