Mesenchymal stem cells: A promising antimicrobial therapy in veterinary medicine

Growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat to human and animal populations citing the limited available options. Alternative antimicrobial options or functional enhancement of currently available antimicrobials remains only options. One of the potential options seems stem cells especially the mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) that show antimicrobial properties. These cells additionally have pro-healing effects that may plausibly improve healing outcomes. MSCs antimicrobial actions are mediated either through direct cell-cell contact or their secretome that enhances innate immune mediated antimicrobial activities. These cells synergistically enhance efficacy of currently available antimicrobials especially against the biofilms. Reciprocal action from antimicrobials on the MSCs functionality remains poorly understood. Currently, the main limitation with MSCs based therapy is their limited efficacy. This demands further understanding and can be enhanced through biotechnological interventions. One of the interventional options is the ‘priming’ to enhance MSCs resistance and specific expression potential. The available literature shows potential antimicrobial actions of MSCs both ex vivo as well as in vivo. The studies on veterinary species are very promising although limited by number and extensiveness in details for their utility as standard therapeutic agents. The current review aims to discuss the role of animals in AMR and the potential antimicrobial actions of MSCs in veterinary medicine. The review also discusses the limitations in their utilization as standard therapeutics. [Display omitted] •MSCs properties and what are the factors that currently limit their therapeutics in veterinary medicine.•Potential factors that enhance mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) antimicrobial potential.•Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) secreted in MSCs in veterinary species and effect of antimicrobial agents on MSCs.•In vivo studies like wounds, osteoarthritis, endotoxemia and mastitis conducted in veterinary species demonstrating MSCs antimicrobial properties.•Thismanuscript differs from other previously published manuscript in that the Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRRs) involved in molecular pathways of MSCs towards antimicrobial potential is detailed. It also details the latest studies published in relation to in vivo MSCs antimicrobialactions.