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Progress in cathelicidins antimicrobial peptides research
GUANG, Hui-Juan; LI, Zheng; WANG, Yi-Peng; LAI, Ren & YU, Hai-Ning
Abstract
Cathelicidins are a family of multi-functional antimicrobial peptides found in almost all types of
vertebrates, where they play vital roles in the immune system. As they possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties,
cathelicidins are not only strongly resistant to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and viruses, but they are
also active against many antibiotic-resistant clinical bacteria, adopting a special antimicrobial mechanism that is unlikely
to lead to microbial resistance. Cathelicidins likewise possess simple structures, and low hemolytic and cytotoxic
activities. Collectively, these features suggest potentially novel and exciting prospects for cathelicidins’ application in
medicine. Here, we review the structures, classification, activities, mechanisms, as well as prospective developments in
the usage and application of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptides.
Keywords
Cathelicidins; Structure and function; Antimicrobial activity; Resistant strains
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