title: Evolution, expression and effectiveness in a cluster of novel bovine beta-defensins.
abstract: The anti-microbial peptides beta-defensins constitute a large family of innate immune effector molecules, conserved across a wide species range. In this paper, we describe a systematic search of the sequenced bovine genome to characterise this extensive gene family in Bos taurus, providing an insight into the pattern of conservation of beta-defensin genes between species. We have sequenced a sub-set of these newly discovered bovine beta-defensin genes and also report expression data for these genes across a range of tissues. We have synthesised the peptide product of one of these genes, bovine beta-defensin 123, and found it to be a potent inhibitor of several pathogenic microbes, particularly Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes.
authors: School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Cormican
authors: Kieran G
authors: KG
authors: Meade
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Cahalane
authors: Fernando
authors: F
authors: Narciandi
authors: Aspinas
authors: A
authors: Chapwanya
authors: Andrew T
authors: AT
authors: Lloyd
authors: Cliona
authors: C
authors: O'Farrelly
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D005075:Biological Evolution; D002417:Cattle / Q000276:immunology*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D023083:beta-Defensins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D023083:beta-Defensins