The only human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide, playing key roles in innate immune defense, wound healing, and modulation of inflammatory responses.
LL-37 is a secretory peptide that has antimicrobial activity. Ribonuclease 1 (RNase 1) is a secretory enzyme that is not cytotoxic. We find that human LL-37 and human RNase 1 can act synergistically to kill Gram-negative bacterial cells. In the prese…
BACKGROUND: Antibiotic resistance is a global issue and new anti-microbials are required. INTRODUCTION: Anti-microbial peptides are important players of host innate immune systems that prevent infections. Due to their ability to eliminate drug-resist…
Cationic host defense peptides (CHDP) are immunomodulatory molecules that control infections and contribute to immune homeostasis. CHDP such as cathelicidin and calprotectin expression is altered in the arthritic synovium, and in the lungs of asthma…
BACKGROUND: The increase in bacterial resistance phenotype cases is a global health problem. New strategies must be explored by the scientific community in order to create new treatment alternatives. Animal venoms are a good source for antimicrobial…
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is highly prevalent, and has developed antimicrobial resistance to virtually all existing antibiotics. Currently, treatment of H. pylori infection (involving proton pump inhibitors and broad-spectrum antibiot…
Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that colonizes human gastro-intestinal mucosal tissues. Its effect on the immune response in intestinal epithelial cells and on the intestinal mucosal barrier are not yet fully understood. In this…
species are common causes of human infection. These Gram-positive, encapsulated bacterial pathogens infect diverse anatomic spaces, leading to infections including skin and soft tissue infection, endocarditis, pneumonia, meningitis, sinusitis, otitis…
Human cathelicidin LL37 is a cationic antimicrobial peptide active against bacteria and viruses and exerting immune modulatory functions. LL37 can be also a target of autoreactive B- and T-lymphocytes in autoimmune settings. Irreversible post-transla…
The aim of this study was to confirm whether the expression of innate immune molecules in the chick cecum is altered in association with changes in the composition of the intestinal microbiome that are regulated by treatment with antibiotics. Broiler…
Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic infection of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses associated with the presence of a microbial biofilm. Extracellular DNA (eDNA) is an important component of the biofilm matrix. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)…
Among the mechanisms put-up by the host to defend against invading microorganisms, antimicrobial peptides represent the first line. In different species of mammals, the cathelicidin family of antimicrobial peptides AMPs has been identified, and in hu…
Cutaneous malignancies including melanomas and keratinocyte carcinomas (KC) are the most common types of cancer, occurring at a rate of over one million per year in the United States. KC, which include both basal cell carcinomas and squamous cell car…
According to the WHO report 2019, Tuberculosis (TB) is an ancient disease of humanity that is curable. TB has caused significant morbidity and mortality even in 2018. The etiological agent of TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) exploits its virulenc…
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are central components of the innate immune system providing protection against pathogens. Yet, serum and tissue concentrations vary between individuals and with disease conditions. We demonstrate that the human AMP LL-3…
BACKGROUND: Saliva contains a very complex mixture of proteins for defense against microbiological pathogens and for oral food perception. Howler monkeys are Neotropical primates that can consume a mostly leaf diet. They are well known to thrive in h…
Tuberculosis-causing Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) is transmitted via airborne droplets followed by a primary infection of macrophages and dendritic cells. During the activation of host defence mechanisms also neutrophils and T helper 1 (T1) and T…
RATRIONALE: The antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin, also known in humans as LL-37, is a defensin secreted by immune and airway epithelial cells. Deficiencies in this peptide may contribute to adverse pulmonary outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonar…
In COVID 19 related lung disease, which is a leading cause of death from this disease, cytokines like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) may be pivotal in the pathogenesis. TNF alpha reduces fluid absorption due to impairment of sodium and chlor…
BACKGROUND: Inactive human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide is present in neutrophils, and proteinase 3 activates this peptide by producing active LL-37 peptide. LL-37 acts as a defensive peptide in the oral tissues. In the present study, the aim w…
Airway epithelium is an important site for local vitamin D (VD) metabolism; this can be negatively affected by inflammatory mediators. VD is an important regulator of respiratory host defense, for example, by increasing the expression of hCAP18/LL-37…