title: Antimicrobial peptide elicitors: new hope for the post-antibiotic era.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides or host defense peptides are fundamental components of human innate immunity. Recent and growing evidence suggests they have a role in a broad range of diseases, including cancer, allergies and susceptibility to infection, including HIV/AIDS. Antimicrobial peptide elicitors (APEs) are physical, biological or chemical agents that boost human antimicrobial peptide expression. The current knowledge of APEs and their potential use in the treatment of human infectious diseases are reviewed, and a classification system for APEs is proposed. The efficient use of APEs in clinical practice could mark the beginning of the urgently needed post-antibiotic era, but further trials assessing their efficacy and safety are required.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Laboratory, Biosecurity Area, CIATEJ - National Council of Science and Technology, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. eprado@ciatej.net.mx
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Prado Montes de Oca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D010446:Peptide Fragments