Abstract
Defensins are endogenous, cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides that contribute to host defence against bacterial, fungal and viral infections. There are three subfamilies of defensins in primates: alpha-defensins are most common in neutrophils and Paneth cells of the small intestine; beta-defensins protect the skin and the mucous membranes of the respiratory, genitourinary and gastrointestinal tracts; and theta-defensins, which are expressed only in Old World monkeys, lesser apes and orangutans, are lectins with broad-spectrum antiviral efficacy. Here, their discovery and recent advances in understanding their properties and functions are described.
MeSH terms
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Amino Acid Sequence
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Animals
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Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology
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Bacteria / drug effects*
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Communicable Diseases / immunology
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Defensins / biosynthesis
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Defensins / chemistry
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Defensins / pharmacology*
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Defensins / physiology
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Epithelial Cells / immunology
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Epithelial Cells / metabolism
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Humans
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Models, Molecular
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Mucous Membrane / immunology
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Mucous Membrane / metabolism
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Neutrophils / immunology
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Neutrophils / metabolism
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Paneth Cells / immunology
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Paneth Cells / metabolism
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Primates / immunology
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Primates / metabolism*
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Primates / microbiology
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Primates / virology
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Skin / immunology
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Skin / metabolism
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Viruses / drug effects*
Substances
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Anti-Infective Agents
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Defensins