Human beta-defensin 3 has received great interest for possible pharmaceutical applications. To characterize the biology of this antimicrobial peptide, the mouse beta-defensin 14 has been selected as a prototypical model. This report provides definite evidence of true orthology between these defensins and reveals molecular diversity of a mammalian specific domain responsible for their antimicrob...

The effects of five antipathogenic plant peptides, wheat alpha-thionin, potato PTH1 defensin, barley LTP2 lipid transfer protein, and potato tuber DL1 and DL2 defensins, have been tested against phospholipid vesicles (liposomes). Wheat thionin very actively induces aggregation and leakage of negatively charged vesicles. LTP2 displays the same activities, although to a limited extent. Under cert...

We report the discovery of HD5-CD, an unprecedented C2-symmetric β-barrel-like covalent dimer of the cysteine-rich host-defense peptide human defensin 5 (HD5). Dimerization results from intermonomer disulfide exchange between the canonical α-defensin Cys(II)-Cys(IV) (Cys(5)-Cys(20)) bonds located at the hydrophobic interface. This disulfide-locked dimeric assembly provides a new element of stru...

We found that sterile wounding of human skin induced epidermal expression of the antimicrobial (poly)peptides human beta-defensin-3, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, and secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor through activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor. After skin wounding, the receptor was activated by heparin-binding epidermal growth factor that was released by a met...

Treatment of common pathogens, such as Salmonella species, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, etc., is a big challenge for practitioner. Antibiotics’ side effects during their application the treatment infectious diseases should not be underestimated they have many issues, transfer antibiotics-resistant genes, dysbiosis, and antibiotic-resistant strains, which main hurdle in eradication d...

BACKGROUND Baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a proven host for the commercial production of recombinant biopharmaceutical proteins. For the manufacture of heterologous proteins with activities deleterious to the host it can be desirable to minimise production during the growth phase and induce production late in the exponential phase. Protein expression by regulated promoter systems off...

Human defensins are natural peptide antibiotics. On the basis of the position and bonding of six conserved cysteine residues, they are divided into two families, designated alpha- and beta-defensins. Human alpha-defensins are expressed predominantly in neutrophils (human neutrophil peptides (HNP) 1-4) or intestinal Paneth cells (human defensins (HD) 5 and 6). Although alpha-defensins have been ...

Impaired expression of α-defensin antimicrobial peptides and overproduction the proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease. In this study, we examine interactions between α-defensins role defensin deficiency in pathogenesis It was found that matrix metalloproteinase-7-deficient (MMP-7−/−) mice, which produce procryptdins but not mature ...

Bactericidal activity of human beta-defensin 3 (hBD-3) against Streptococcus mutans and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by the presence of saliva and/or serum. Increasing the concentration of hBD-3 partially overcame this inhibition. A fast bactericidal effect was observed against both bacterial strains, suggesting a potential therapeutic use for hB...

A novel defensin antimicrobial peptide gene was identified in Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua. This three exon/two intron defensin gene codes for a peptide precursor consisting of two domains: a signal peptide of 26 amino acids and a mature peptide of 40 residues. The mature cod defensin has six conserved cysteine residues that form 1-5, 2-4 and 3-6 disulphide bridges. This pattern is typical of bet...