title: Defensins: The Case for Their Use against Mycobacterial Infections.
abstract: Human tuberculosis remains a huge global public health problem with an estimated 1/3rd of the population being infected. Defensins are antibacterial cationic peptides produced by a number of cell types, most notably neutrophil granulocytes and epithelial cells. All three defensin types (α-,β-, andθ-defensins) have antibacterial activities, mainly through bacterial membrane permeabilization. Defensins are effective against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria including mycobacteria and are active both intra- and extracellularly. Mycobacterial resistance has never been demonstrated although themprFgene encoding resistance inStaphylococcus aureusis present in theMycobacterium tuberculosisgenome. In addition to their antibacterial effect, defensins are chemoattractants for macrophages and neutrophils. There are many cases for their use for therapy or prophylaxis in tuberculosis as well. In conclusion, we propose that there is considerable scope and potential for exploring their use as therapeutic/prophylactic agents and more comprehensive survey of defensins from different species and their bioactivity is timely.
authors.affiliation: National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine and State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Haodi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine and State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine and State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Deming
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, Loughborough, Leicestershire Le12SRD, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5607-0599
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Barrow
authors.affiliation: National Animal Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy Laboratory, Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine and State Key Lab of Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xiangmei
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1566-5745
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023082:Defensins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000276:immunology*; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023082:Defensins