The only human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, playing key roles in innate immune defense, wound healing, and modulation of inflammatory responses.
The enteric protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica is the cause of potentially fatal amebic colitis and liver abscesses. E. histolytica trophozoites colonize the colon, where they induce inflammation, penetrate the mucosa, and disrupt the host immu…
Cathelicidins comprise a family of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) sharing a highly conserved cathelin domain, and play a central role in the innate defense against infection in most of vertebrates. But so far it has not yet been found in amphibians al…
The oral cavity is home to numerous viruses and micro-organisms recognized as having a role in various oral diseases as well as in infections in other parts of the body. Indeed, in general a microbial infection underlies or is believed to underlie th…
The oomycete Saprolegnia parasitica causes significant losses in the aquaculture industry, mainly affecting salmon, trout and catfish. Since the ban of malachite green, effective control measures are currently not available prompting a re-evaluation…
Cathelicidins are a major family of antimicrobial peptides present in vertebrate animals with potent microbicidal and immunomodulatory activities. Four cathelicidins, namely fowlicidins 1 to 3 and cathelicidin B1, have been identified in chickens. As…
We previously reported the identification of a novel family of immunomodulatory proteins, termed helminth defense molecules (HDMs), that are secreted by medically important trematode parasites. Since HDMs share biochemical, structural, and functional…
BACKGROUND: Oral ulcer is the cardinal clinical sign and increased neutrophilic activity is a part of the pathogenesis in Behcet's disease (BD). Saliva, as a part of the innate immune response, contains antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are derived…
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the inhibitory effects on Candida albicans of vagina cells transferred with antimicrobial peptide LL-37 and human defensin 5 (HD5) recombinant plasmids and observe secretion of IL-8. METHODS: (1) The epithelial cells from femal…
BACKGROUND: Patients, especially young children, with atopic dermatitis are at an increased risk of developing eczema vaccinatum, a severe reaction to the smallpox vaccine, either through direct vaccination or indirect contact with a person recently…
Antimicrobial peptides of the cathelicidin family are found in many mammalian species, and are focused on various effects other than antimicrobial action. In this study, we evaluated the anti-proliferative effect of an analogue peptide, FF/CAP18, der…
An acute phase response (APR) was experimentally induced in Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.) by intramuscular injection of turpentine oil. The change in the expression of immune related genes was monitored in the anterior kidney and the spleen over a p…
BACKGROUND: Acne inversa is a chronic, suppurative relapsing inflammatory skin disease that primarily affects the axillae, perineum and inframammary regions. Evidence suggests that the innate immune system is involved in the pathogenesis of acne inve…
Some antimicrobial peptides have emerged as potential anticancer agents. In contrast to chemotherapeutics, they act primarily by physical disruption of the cancer cell membrane. Selective targeting of these cationic peptides still remains elusive. We…
RATIONALE: Neutrophils have been reported to contribute to early atherosclerotic lesion formation. Mechanisms of neutrophil-driven atherosclerosis remain unclear so far. OBJECTIVE: Investigation of the role of the neutrophil granule protein cathelici…
BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between salivary LL-37 levels and clinical severity in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP). The presence/absence of four periodontopathic bacteria and salivary cotinine levels…
Acetic acid bacteria were previously considered nonpathogenic in humans. However, over the past decade, five genera of Acetobacteraceae have been isolated from patients with inborn or iatrogenic immunodeficiencies. Here, we describe the first studies…
Host defense peptides are innate immune effectors that possess both bactericidal activities and immunomodulatory functions. Deficiency in the human host defense peptide LL-37 has previously been correlated with severe periodontal disease. Treponema d…
Physicians, Dickens scholars, and historians have tried to diagnose the condition that affected Tiny Tim in A Christmas Carol. Leading entities include tuberculosis (TB), rickets, malnutrition, cerebral palsy, spinal dysraphism, and renal tubular aci…
BACKGROUND: Enterotoxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus may cause severe inflammatory intestinal disease, particularly in infants or immunodeficient or elderly patients. They are also recognized to be associated with sudden infant death syndrome. Lit…