title: The Antimicrobial and Antiviral Applications of Cell-Penetrating Peptides.
abstract: Over the past two decades, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have become increasingly popular both in research and in application. There have been numerous studies on the physiochemical characteristics and behavior of CPPs in various environments; likewise, the mechanisms of entry and delivery capabilities of these peptides have also been extensively researched. Besides the fundamental issues, there is an enormous interest in the delivery capabilities of the peptides as the family of CPPs is a promising and mostly non-toxic delivery vector candidate for numerous medical applications such as gene silencing, transgene delivery, and splice correction. Lately, however, there has been an emerging field of study besides the high-profile gene therapy applications-the use of peptides and CPPs to combat various infections caused by harmful bacteria, fungi, and viruses.In this chapter, we aim to provide a short overview of the history and properties of CPPs which is followed by more thorough descriptions of antimicrobial and antiviral peptides. To achieve this, we analyze the origin of such peptides, give an overview of the mechanisms of action and discuss the various practical applications which are ongoing or have been suggested based on research.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnology, Institute of Technology, Tartu University, Nooruse 1/517, Tartu, 50411, Estonia, Kalle.parn@ut.ee.
authors.forename: Kalle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pärn
authors.forename: Elo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eriste
authors.forename: Ülo
authors.initials: Ü
authors.lastname: Langel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D057846:Cell-Penetrating Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods; D055808:Drug Discovery / Q000379:methods*; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009181:Mycoses / Q000188:drug therapy; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D057846:Cell-Penetrating Peptides; D004337:Drug Carriers