title: Cationic peptides: distribution and mechanisms of resistance.
abstract: Cationic antimicrobial peptides are observed throughout nature. In mammals they are observed both at epithelial surfaces and within the granules of phagocytic cells. They are an important component of innate defences, since in addition to their ability to kill microorganisms, they are able to modulate inflammatory responses. With respect to their ability to kill bacteria, it is very difficult to isolate resistant mutants. However there are a few known mechanisms of intrinsic resistance, including PhoPQ-dependent and other alterations in lipopolysaccharide structure that influence self promoted uptake, and protease-mediated resistance.
authors.affiliation: Division of Oral Biology, Leeds Dental Institute, University of Leeds, Leeds, England LS2 9LU.
authors.forename: Deirdre A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Devine
authors.forename: Robert E W
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hancock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000378:metabolism; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010587:Phagocytosis
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides