title: Insect antimicrobial peptides: potential tools for the prevention of skin cancer.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides/proteins (AMPs) are biologically active molecules with diverse structural properties that are produced by mammals, plants, insects, ticks, and microorganisms. They have a range of antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and even anticancer activities, and their biological properties could therefore be exploited for therapeutic and prophylactic applications. Cancer and cancer drug resistance are significant current health challenges, so the development of innovative cancer drugs with minimal toxicity toward normal cells and novel modes of action that can evade resistance may provide a new direction for anticancer therapy. The skin is the first line of defense against heat, sunlight, injury, and infection, and skin cancer is thus the most common type of cancer. The skin that has been exposed to sunlight is particularly susceptible, but lesions can occur anywhere on the body. Skin cancer awareness and self-efficacy are necessary to improve sun protection behavior, but more effective preventative approaches are also required. AMPs may offer a new prophylactic approach against skin cancer. In this mini review, we draw attention to the potential use of insect AMPs for the prevention and treatment of skin cancer.
authors.affiliation: LOEWE Center for Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Winchester Strasse, 35394, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Miray
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tonk
authors.affiliation: LOEWE Center for Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Winchester Strasse, 35394, Giessen, Germany.|Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vilcinskas
authors.affiliation: LOEWE Center for Insect Biotechnology and Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Winchester Strasse, 35394, Giessen, Germany. mohammad.rahnamaeian@uni-giessen.de.
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rahnamaeian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007313:Insecta / Q000378:metabolism; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019476:Insect Proteins
keywords: Antimicrobial peptides; Cosmetic industry; Prophylaxis; Skin cancer; Sun cream