Studies

Canadian First Nations (FN) population experiences a high burden of tuberculosis. Vitamin D is known to enhance the expression of innate immune effectors, including cathelicidin LL-37, for protection against infections. In this study we performed lon…

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…

Innate defense regulators (IDRs) are synthetic immunomodulatory versions of natural host defense peptides (HDP). IDRs mediate protection against bacterial challenge in the absence of direct antimicrobial activity, representing a novel approach to ant…

Low vitamin D levels in human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV) infected persons are associated with more rapid disease progression and increased risk for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. We report that physiological concentrations of 1α,25-di…

Enterohemorrhagic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EHEC and EPEC) are enteric human pathogens that colonize the large and small intestines, respectively. To establish infection EHEC and EPEC must overcome innate host defenses, such as antimicro…

Persistent Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients and are linked to the formation of a biofilm. The development of new biofilm inhibition strategies is thus a major challenge. L…

Human pathogens often colonize their host by the formation of biofilms. These surface-attached aggregates of bacteria are characterized by a self-produced extracellular matrix, which makes them highly resistant towards antibiotic treatment. Their abi…

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are critical components of host defense limiting bacterial infections at the gastrointestinal mucosal surface. Bacterial pathogens have co-evolved with host innate immunity and developed means to counteract the effect of…

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is able to resist antimicrobial peptide killing by induction of the PhoP-PhoQ and PmrA-PmrB two-component systems and the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) modifications they mediate. Murine cathelin-related antimicrobi…

BACKGROUND: Haemophilus ducreyi encounters several classes of antimicrobial peptides (APs) in vivo and utilizes the sensitive-to-antimicrobial-peptides (Sap) transporter as one mechanism of AP resistance. A mutant lacking the periplasmic solute-bindi…

Some antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been described to exert immunomodulatory effects, which may contribute to their in vivo antibacterial activity. Very recently, we could show that novel oncocin and apidaecin derivatives are potently antibacteri…

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…

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…

Host defense peptides (HDPs) are an evolutionarily conserved component of the innate immune response found in all living species. They possess antimicrobial activities against a broad range of organisms including bacteria, fungi, eukaryotic parasites…

BACKGROUND: Previous research has shown that innate immune system was more important than the acquired immune system in the pathogenesis of COPD. LL-37 is the only human cathelicidin identified so far. As an integral part of the innate immune system,…

Uncoupled bone resorption leads to net alveolar bone loss in periodontitis. The deficiency of LL-37, the only human antimicrobial peptide in the cathelicidin family, in patients with aggressive periodontitis suggests that LL-37 may play a pivotal rol…