Host defense peptides: An insight into the antimicrobial world

Abstract

A serious challenge to antimicrobial therapies has emerged due to rapid increase in drug-resistant infections creating an urge for the development of alternative therapeutics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained importance because of their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities and mediator-like functions linking innate and adaptive immune responses. The multidimensional properties of these peptides hold promising potentials as prophylactic and antimicrobial agents. This review discusses various AMPs and their role in combating microorganisms and infections along with its clinical implication.

Expression and Function of Host Defense Peptides at Inflammation Sites

“…Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as defensins and cathelicidins represent a vital part of the human immune system due to their broad spectrum activity against pathogenic bacteria, fungi, protists, and enveloped viruses [5]. Furthermore, in recent years, a growing number of studies have recognized these peptides as potent immune modulators, implicated in multiple pro-and anti-inflammatory responses through (1) neutralization of bacterial toxins, (2) chemoattraction and activation of immune cells, (3) initiation of adaptive immunity, (4) neovascularization and wound healing, as well as (5) anti-or pro-tumor activity [6]. Actually, AMPs interact with innate and adaptive immune receptors, such as pattern recognition (PRRs) or chemokine receptors (CCRs), as well as inflammasomes and their complement systems, creating a link between innate and adaptive immunity [7][8][9].…”

“…In addition, HDPs have been indicated as potential biomarkers in numerous infectious and non-infectious diseases [24]. inflammatory responses through (1) neutralization of bacterial toxins, (2) chemoattraction and activation of immune cells, (3) initiation of adaptive immunity, (4) neovascularization and wound healing, as well as (5) anti-or pro-tumor activity [6]. Actually, AMPs interact with innate and adaptive immune receptors, such as pattern recognition (PRRs) or chemokine receptors (CCRs), as well as inflammasomes and their complement systems, creating a link between innate and adaptive immunity [7][8][9].…”

Alignment‐based design and synthesis of new antimicrobial Aurein‐derived peptides with improved activity against Gram‐negative bacteria and evaluation of their toxicity on human cells

“…Nowadays, awareness of importance of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is regarded as an improvement toward new and resistance-free therapies for infectious diseases (Wang, Zeng, Yang, & Qiao, 2016). AMPs are a group of natural molecules generated by the immune system of living organisms of all types (Gupta, Bhatia, Sharma, & Saxena, 2018;Peters, Shirtliff, & Jabra-Rizk, 2010). Skin secretions from many species of amphibians contain toxic peptides-often in very high concentrations, with broadspectrum antimicrobial activities-and may kill the mammalian cells (Conlon & Mechkarska, 2014).…”

AurH1: a new heptapeptide derived from Aurein1.2 antimicrobial peptide with specific and exclusive fungicidal activity

“…Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and antifungal peptides (AFPs) are agents with minimal resistance developed against such pathogens . AMPs are a group of molecules generated by an innate immune system of living organisms . These molecules show a broad range of activities against gram‐negative and gram‐positive bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites .…”

“…7 AMPs are a group of molecules generated by an innate immune system of living organisms. 8,9 These molecules show a broad range of activities against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. 10 Among their other biological functions, apoptosis induction, wound healing, immune modulation, and even anticancer properties can be mentioned.…”