title: Host defence peptides from invertebrates--emerging antimicrobial strategies.
abstract: Cationic antimicrobial (host defence) peptides are found as potent components of the innate immune system of all invertebrates in which they have been investigated. They vary substantially in their amino acid sequences, secondary structures, inducibility, potency and antimicrobial activity spectra. This enormous diversity is providing templates for the design and development of both antibiotic peptides and peptides that selectively modulate innate immunity to increase protection against infections and sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of British Columbia, 2259 Lower Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z4. bob@cmdr.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Robert E W
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hancock
authors.forename: Kelly L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Neeloffer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mookherjee
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*; D007448:Invertebrates / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides