title: The co-evolution of host cationic antimicrobial peptides and microbial resistance.
abstract: Endogenous cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) are among the most ancient and efficient components of host defence. It is somewhat of an enigma that bacteria have not developed highly effective CAMP-resistance mechanisms, such as those that inhibit many therapeutic antibiotics. Here, we propose that CAMPs and CAMP-resistance mechanisms have co-evolved, leading to a transient host-pathogen balance that has shaped the existing CAMP repertoire. Elucidating the underlying principles of this process could help in the development of more sustainable antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Molecular Microbiology Division, Medical Microbiology and Hygiene Department, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany. andreas.peschel@uni-tuebingen.de
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peschel
authors.forename: Hans-Georg
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Sahl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides