Defensins of vertebrate animals.
During the past year, novel beta-defensins of mice and men have been identified, together with a novel defensin subfamily (the circular or 'theta' minidefensins) in primates. Insight into the evolution of defensins has been obtained from structural studies, and several mechanisms related to microbial resistance to defensins have been delineated. There is now convincing evidence that defensins augment adaptive immune responses.
Lehrer
Robert I
RI
Department of Medicine (Room CHS 37-062), and Molecular Biology Institute University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for the Health Sciences, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA. rlehrer@mednet.ucla.edu
Ganz
Tomas
T
D000818:Animals; D023082:Defensins / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D051379:Mice; D014714:Vertebrates / Q000276:immunology
D023082:Defensins