Natural roles of antimicrobial peptides in microbes, plants and animals

Gergely Maróti; Attila Kereszt; Eva Kondorosi; Peter Mergaert

doi:10.1016/j.resmic.2011.02.005

Natural roles of antimicrobial peptides in microbes, plants and animals

Res Microbiol. 2011 May;162(4):363-74. doi: 10.1016/j.resmic.2011.02.005. Epub 2011 Feb 12.

Authors

Gergely Maróti¹, Attila Kereszt, Eva Kondorosi, Peter Mergaert

Affiliation

¹ Institute for Plant Genomics, Human Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Bay Zoltán Foundation for Applied Research, Derkovits fasor 2, Szeged 6726, Hungary. marotig@baygen.hu

PMID: 21320593
DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2011.02.005

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are ribosomally synthesized natural antibiotics that are crucial effectors of innate immune systems in all living organisms. AMPs are diverse peptides, differing in their amino acid composition and structure, that generally display rapid killing and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. Therefore, AMPs have high potential for therapeutic use in healthcare and agriculture. This review focuses on in vivo studies relating how organisms - bacteria, plants, insects and mammals - employ AMPs in their interactions with microbial competitors, pathogens and symbionts.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Animals
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / immunology*
Bacteria / immunology*
Humans
Insecta / immunology*
Mammals / immunology*
Plants / immunology*

Substances

Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides