Introduction: The emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms has necessitated a search for new antimicrobial agents. Skin secretions of many frog species contain peptides that possess potent, broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activities and so show promise for development into anti-infective agents. Several such peptides also possess cytokine-mediated anti-inflammatory properties and a range of anti-diabetic activities.

Areas covered: A peptidomic approach, involving reversed-phase HPLC and MALDI mass spectrometry, to the comprehensive identification of peptides of potential therapeutic importance in frog skin secretions is described and its advantages over analyses involving bioassays discussed. Peptidomic studies relating to the characterization of peptides with demonstrated antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties in skin secretions of frogs belonging to the extensive Pipidae and Ranidae families are reviewed.

Expert commentary: The initial promise of frog skin peptides as agents to treat infections produced by drug-resistant microorganisms has not been fulfilled although topical applications to treat skin diseases and a role in promoting wound healing remains a possibility. Future directions are more likely to involve the application of such peptides in the treatment of patients with sepsis and related inflammatory conditions and as a component of a therapeutic regime for Type 2 diabetes.

简介：多重耐药微生物的出现使得必须寻找新的抗菌剂。许多青蛙物种的皮肤分泌物中所含的肽具有有效的广谱抗菌和抗真菌活性，因此有望发展成为抗感染剂。几种这样的肽还具有细胞因子介导的抗炎特性和一系列抗糖尿病活性。

涵盖的领域：描述了一种肽学方法，涉及反相HPLC和MALDI质谱，用于全面鉴定在蛙皮分泌物中具有潜在治疗重要性的肽，并讨论了其比涉及生物测定的分析的优势。综述了与肽的表征有关的肽学研究，该肽具有广泛的Pipidae和Ranidae家族的青蛙皮肤分泌物中已证明的抗菌，抗炎和抗糖尿病特性。

专家评论：尽管有局部应用来治疗皮肤疾病和促进伤口愈合的作用，但蛙皮多肽作为治疗耐药微生物产生的感染的药物的最初希望尚未实现。未来的方向更可能涉及将这种肽应用于患有败血症和相关炎性疾病的患者中，并作为2型糖尿病治疗方案的组成部分。