Review
Microbiology
Allison H. Shannon, Sara A. Adelman, Erin A. Hisey, Sanskruti S. Potnis, Vanessa Rozo, Madeline W. Yung, Jennifer Y. Li, Christopher J. Murphy, Sara M. Thomasy, Brian C. Leonard
Summary: Microbial keratitis is a common eye condition that causes pain and visual impairment worldwide. Current treatment with antimicrobial drugs is often limited due to high rates of pathogen resistance. Recent studies suggest that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) found on the ocular surface could be potential therapeutic agents for microbial keratitis.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Mahsa Abbasi, Esmail Behmard, Mohammad Hashem Yousefi, Seyed Shahram Shekarforoush, Shirin Mahmoodi
Summary: Antibiotic-resistant pathogens have become a global health concern, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) show promising potential as effective treatments against drug-resistant microorganisms. This study successfully fused the amino acid sequences of human cathelicidin LL-37 (2-31) and human beta-defensin (hBD)-129 to create a novel AMP. The fusion AMP exhibited significant antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli bacteria.
ARCHIVES OF MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Albert Bolatchiev, Vladimir Baturin, Elizaveta Bolatchieva
Summary: Antibiotic resistance is a global threat, and new treatment strategies are needed. This study investigated the effect of seven small molecules on the serum levels of natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in rats. Two of the molecules significantly increased the AMP levels and reduced mortality in a mouse model of sepsis caused by a carbapenem-resistant bacterium. These small molecules show promise as potent AMP inducers.
Article
Fisheries
Leisha McGrath, Joan O'Keeffe, Orla Slattery
Summary: This study investigated the expression of antimicrobial peptide genes in healthy Atlantic salmon and compared the expression in salmon challenged with Neoparamoeba perurans. The results showed significant upregulation of beta-defensins and cathelicidins in the gills of parasite-challenged salmon, suggesting potential novel roles in innate immune responses to Neoparamoeba perurans.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Amandda Evelin Silva-Carvalho, Marlon Henrique Cardoso, Thuany Alencar-Silva, Gabriela Muller Reche Bogea, Juliana Lott Carvalho, Octavio Luiz Franco, Felipe Saldanha-Araujo
Summary: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the ability to control the immune response and fight pathogen infection through the production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). These AMPs exhibit activity against a wide range of microorganisms and also interact with MSCs to modulate their functions. Therefore, utilizing the antimicrobial properties of MSCs in clinical therapy holds great potential.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Oliver Linn, Bernhard Menges, Frank Lammert, Susanne N. N. Weber, Marcin Krawczyk
Summary: In this study, the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) in the upper gastrointestinal tract was investigated in different metabolic states. The results showed that there were differences in AMP expression between normal and pathological metabolic states. Additionally, a correlation between vitamin D levels and AMP expression was observed. The findings suggest that reduced AMP expression in the upper gastrointestinal tract may contribute to epithelial barrier dysfunction and increased bacterial translocation in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Darren Shu Jeng Ting, Jianguo Li, Chandra S. Verma, Eunice T. L. Goh, Mario Nubile, Leonardo Mastropasqua, Dalia G. Said, Roger W. Beuerman, Rajamani Lakshminarayanan, Imran Mohammed, Harminder S. Dua
Summary: CaD23 is a novel synthetic HDP with strong antimicrobial efficacy, especially in combination with antibiotics. Its rapid antimicrobial action is mainly attributed to its membrane-permeabilising mechanism, and MD simulations are useful for elucidating its mechanism of action and guiding design optimization.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Sonia Laneri, Mariarita Brancaccio, Cristina Mennitti, Margherita G. De Biasi, Maria Elena Pero, Giuseppe Pisanelli, Olga Scudiero, Raffaela Pero
Summary: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), such as alpha- and beta-defensins, have antiviral properties and inhibit viruses through various mechanisms. Researchers are exploring the potential of AMPs and their derivatives as therapies against COVID-19, considering their interactions with toll-like receptors (TLRs) and chemokine receptors in the context of the disease's pathogenesis. Additionally, controlled physical activity, along with a healthy lifestyle, may serve as natural defense against COVID-19 and support therapies, as seen in the increase of serum defensins in competitive athletes.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Kimberly A. Morio, Robert H. Sternowski, Kim A. Brogden
Summary: Antibiotics are commonly used to treat oral infections, but excessive use can lead to antibiotic resistance. An alternative approach is to induce the expression of endogenous oral antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which can help reduce infection, inflammation, and pain and promote oral tissue healing. By conducting literature searches, prominent AMPs expressed in the oral cavity, methods to induce AMP expression, and the roles of these AMPs in regulating oral health were identified. The expression of AMPs can be induced by various factors such as nutrients, proinflammatory agonists, and irradiation methodologies. Inducing AMP expression through beneficial foods is suitable for long-term health protection, while irradiation methodologies can be used for specific oral treatments and controlling local infections.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Darren Shu Jeng Ting, Imran Mohammed, Rajamani Lakshminarayanan, Roger W. Beuerman, Harminder S. Dua
Summary: Vision is considered the most important sense in humans, and the ocular surface plays a crucial role in defending the eye against environmental stress and pathogens. Host defense peptides (HDPs) are innate immune molecules that have antimicrobial and other biological functions. This review provides an updated overview of HDPs at the ocular surface, their involvement in ocular diseases/conditions, current developments in HDP-based treatments for ocular diseases and infections, and the future potential of HDP-based clinical pharmacotherapy for ocular diseases.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Marta Fijalkowska, Mateusz Koziej, Boguslaw Antoszewski, Aneta Sitek
Summary: This study evaluated the relationship between plasma concentrations of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and spectrophotometric parameters of skin color in patients with basal cell carcinoma. The results showed that patients with basal cell carcinoma had significantly higher concentrations of cathelicidin and beta-defensin-2 compared to healthy controls. The study also found that the relationship between erythema and the levels of AMPs differed between healthy controls and patients with basal cell carcinoma, suggesting an inadequate immunological response in skin cancer patients. Further research could explore cytokine or mast cell disorders.
JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND CLINICAL ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Enqin Wu, Jiaxing Zhu, Zhiyuan Ma, Biguang Tuo, Shuji Terai, Kenichi Mizuno, Taolang Li, Xuemei Liu
Summary: Alarmins serve as early warning signals to the immune system, participating in the damage and repair processes of mucosal diseases. Gastric release of alarmins is involved in inflammation, immune response, and wound healing, but it also causes the development of gastric mucosal diseases.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. Jia, J. E. Fulton, E. A. Wong
Summary: This study compared the mRNA abundance of AvBD10 and 3 cathelicidins (CATH1, CATH2, and CATH3) in the yolk sac tissue (YST) of commercial broilers, white egg layers, and brown egg layers. The results showed similar expression patterns of AvBD10 and CATH mRNA in broilers and layers, with a peak at E9-13 and a decrease thereafter. White egg layers showed higher expression of AvBD10 mRNA, while brown egg layers showed higher expression of CATH1 and CATH2 mRNA compared to broilers. The findings suggest that selection for production parameters rather than genetic relatedness is responsible for the differences in gene expression in the YST of broilers and layers.
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Marko Radic, Sylviane Muller
Summary: Innate immunity responds to infections and inflammatory stimuli through interactions between cells, stimuli, and receptors. The endogenous peptide LL-37 plays roles as a defensin and alarmin, and has direct effects on neutrophils and extracellular traps (NETs). The structural flexibility and adaptability of LL-37 are crucial for its functions.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Jiahui Wu, Xia Zhou, Qiaoqiao Chen, Zhiqiang Chen, Jinyu Zhang, Lele Yang, Yuxuan Sun, Guohui Wang, Jianfeng Dai, Tingting Feng
Summary: This review provides an overview of tick defensins, including their structural classification and antimicrobial function. Tick defensins exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities against various pathogens and are considered novel candidates or targets for controlling infectious diseases.
INFECTIOUS DISEASES OF POVERTY
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Rongyan Sun, Yubo Zhou, Jiao Liang, Lihong Yang, Zhengjun Fan, Huali Wang
Summary: This study found that knockdown of MDM2 can attenuate vascular endothelial dysfunction in hypertension, which may be achieved through inhibiting the activation of Notch1 and NLRP3 inflammasome.
ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
(2024)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
E. M. Fernandez-Rubio, R. J. Radlanski
Summary: This study investigates the development of the primary and secondary temporomandibular joints in humans, focusing on their coexistence and subsequent separation. The findings reveal that both joints develop simultaneously and remain connected for over 6 weeks before separating at around the 18th to 24th week. Understanding the precise timing and functional movements involved in the development of these joints is crucial for comprehending the overall development of the temporomandibular joint.
ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
(2024)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Nawwaf Sebastian Damen, Sorin Hostiuc, Adelina Maria Jianu, Bogdan Adrian Manta, Mugurel Constantin Rusu, Mihai Adrian Dobra
Summary: This study documented the anatomical variations of the left renal vein (LRV) through a retrospective analysis of 375 computed tomography angiograms. Five different anatomical types of LRV were identified, and a new anatomical classification system for the retroaortic LRV (RLRV) was proposed.
ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
(2024)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Harald Knof, Markus Berndt, Thomas Shiozawa
Summary: This study investigated the impact of online learning conditions on the oral exam performance of medical students. The results showed that students who used collaborative learning strategies were able to assess their abilities more realistically. However, the learning strategies did not have an impact on exam results.
ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
(2024)
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Felix Margenfeld, Adib Zendehdel, Giorgio Tamborrini, Magdalena Mueller-Gerbl
Summary: This study is the first scoping review to screen ultrasound studies on human cadaver joints and revealed a heterogeneous field. It is recommended to use a uniform method for conducting and presenting ultrasound examinations in future studies.
ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
(2024)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Rafael Heiss, Svenja A. Hoeger, Michael Uder, Thilo Hotfiel, Jannis Hanspach, Frederik B. Laun, Armin M. Nagel, Frank W. Roemer
Summary: This study utilized 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess morphological and functional changes in skeletal muscle during exercise-induced delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The results showed significant alterations in T2 signal intensity and T2 values immediately after exercise and 60 hours later. These findings suggest the potential use of ultra-high field MRI in sports medicine to monitor microstructural muscle damage and guide appropriate therapeutic strategies.
ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
(2024)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Lukasz Olewnik, Nicol Zielinska, Kacper Ruzik, Michal Podgorski, Przemyslaw Kicinski, Rui Diogo, Friedrich Paulsen
Summary: This study provides the first comprehensive classification of the fibularis brevis tendon based on its insertion in human fetuses and evaluates the prevalence of fibularis digiti quinti.
ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
(2024)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Denise Bonente, Virginia Barone, Vitaliano Francesco Muzii, Sara Ottolenghi, Miriam Durante, Sandra Bracco, Claudio Nicoletti, Eugenio Bertelli
Summary: This study characterizes the morphology and topography of the spina musculi recti lateralis (SMRL) and compares it to known bony landmarks. The results show that the SMRL is a process of the sphenoidal orbital plate and serves as a reliable landmark for the insertion of the tendinous ring and lateral rectus. This is an important variation for orbital surgeons to be aware of.
ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
(2024)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Fatih Cicek, Selim Cinaroglu, Faruk Gazi Ceranoglu, Erkut Kucuk, Kursad Ramazan Zor
Summary: This study revealed the nerve innervation of the orbicularis oculi muscle for BoNT treatment of blepharospasm using Sihler's staining technique. It identified precise crossing points of these nerves, which can be targeted for BoNT administration, leading to more efficient outcomes and reduced expenses.
ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
(2024)
