title: Oral antimicrobial peptides: Types and role in the oral cavity.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a wide-ranging class of host-defense molecules that act early to contest against microbial invasion and challenge. These are small cationic peptides that play an important in the development of innate immunity. In the oral cavity, the AMPs are produced by the salivary glands and the oral epithelium and serve defensive purposes. The aim of this review was to discuss the types and functions of oral AMPs and their role in combating microorganisms and infections in the oral cavity.
authors.affiliation: School of Materials and Metallurgy, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Zohaib
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Khurshid
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Dentistry and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Ziauddin University, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naseem
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Dentistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
authors.forename: Zeeshan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sheikh
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Al-Farabi Dental College, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Shariq
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Najeeb
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Materials Science, Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences for Girls, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shahab
authors.affiliation: Department of Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Taibah University, Madinah Al-Munawwarah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Muhammad Sohail
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Zafar
keywords: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs); Cathelicidins; Defensins; Dental applications; Histatins; Oral cavity