Antimicrobial peptides and proteins of the horse–insights into a well-armed organism.
Abstract: Antimicrobial peptides play a pivotal role as key effectors of the innate immune system in plants and animals and act as endogenous antibiotics. The molecules exhibit an antimicrobial activity against bacteria, viruses, and eukaryotic pathogens with different specificities and potencies depending on the structure and amino-acid composition of the peptides. Several antimicrobial peptides were comprehensively investigated in the last three decades and some molecules with remarkable antimicrobial properties have reached the third phase of clinical studies. Next to the peptides themselves, numerous organisms were examined and analyzed regarding their repertoire of antimicrobial peptides revealing a huge number of candidates with potencies and properties for future medical applications. One of these organisms is the horse, which possesses numerous peptides that are interesting candidates for therapeutical applications in veterinary medicine. Here we summarize investigations and knowledge on equine antimicrobial peptides, point to interesting candidates, and discuss prospects for therapeutical applications.
Publication Date: 2011-09-02 PubMed ID: 21888650PubMed Central: PMC3179947DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-42-98Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article is about antimicrobial peptides in horses and how their unique properties could be potentially used in medical applications, particularly in veterinary medicine.
What are Antimicrobial Peptides?
- Antimicrobial peptides are vital components of the innate immune system in both plants and animals.
- These molecules serve as natural antibiotics, combating various pathogens including bacteria, viruses, and eukaryotic pathogens.
- Each peptide has different specificities and potencies, depending on its structure and amino-acid composition.
Past Studies and Current Progress
- Over the past three decades, there has been extensive research on numerous antimicrobial peptides.
- Some of these molecules have shown remarkable antimicrobial properties, prompting them to reach the third phase of clinical studies for their potential medical applications.
- Research has also been conducted on the antimicrobial peptides found in various organisms, revealing several candidate molecules for use in future medical applications.
Antimicrobial Peptides in Horses
- Among the organisms studied, one that stands out is the horse.
- Horses possess a wealth of peptides that are interesting candidates for potential therapeutic applications in veterinary medicine.
- This study focuses on summarizing investigations and accumulated knowledge regarding equine antimicrobial peptides.
- By doing this, researchers aim to identify and discuss promising candidates for therapeutic applications, thus paving the way for innovative treatments in veterinary medicine.
Cite This Article
APA
Bruhn O, Grötzinger J, Cascorbi I, Jung S.
(2011).
Antimicrobial peptides and proteins of the horse–insights into a well-armed organism.
Vet Res, 42(1), 98.
https://doi.org/10.1186/1297-9716-42-98 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, Hospitalstraße 4, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany. obruhn@pharmakologie.uni-kiel.de.
MeSH Terms
- Amino Acid Motifs
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Anti-Infective Agents / analysis
- Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry
- Anti-Infective Agents / metabolism
- Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemistry
- Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / genetics
- Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / metabolism
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Horse Diseases / genetics
- Horse Diseases / immunology
- Horses
- Organ Specificity
- Sequence Alignment
References
This article includes 193 references
Citations
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