Human Defensin–Derived Peptides: A New Class of Antibiotics?

Chimeric molecules derived from naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides showed activity against a broad array of pathogens and appeared to be nontoxic.

In humans and other vertebrates, small (2- to 6-kDa) antimicrobial peptides called defensins are essential elements of the innate immune defense system. These peptides are rich in cationic amino acid and cysteine residues and occur in epithelial cells of the skin and the internal mucous membranes. Recently, researchers in Germany designed, cloned, and purified chimeric variants of the natural human β-defensins 2 and 3 (HBD2/3) and studied their activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

The N-terminal region of HBD3 and the middle region of HBD2 were found to be determinants of antimicrobial activity. Two chimeric peptides containing both of these regions were highly active against E. coli and S. aureus. For one of these pe…

Reviewing Author

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection

Thomas Glück, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsConsilium Infectiorum by InfectoPharm, Infection