Review
Cell Biology
Martyna Cieslik, Natalia Baginska, Andrzej Gorski, Ewa Jonczyk-Matysiak
Summary: Human beta-defensin 2 plays a crucial role in innate immune response, providing protection against various pathogens and potentially serving as a marker of inflammation. Therapeutic administration of this protein has been suggested to maintain systemic homeostasis and modulate immune response in inflammatory diseases, offering new treatment possibilities. Further research is needed to fully explore its properties and role in the human body.
Article
Immunology
Ran Wang, Lu Fu, Lvqin He, Jianhong Han, Mingde Zhao, Zehui Yu, Qian Yang, Manli He, Congwei Gu, Wudian Xiao
Summary: This study reveals the transcriptome-level response of keratinocytes to Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection, uncovering differentially expressed genes and pathways related to inflammation, immune response, and pathogen-induced dysfunction. Higher expression gene sets are mainly involved in immune responses, while lower expression gene sets are related to cell component organization or biogenesis and transporter activity. Furthermore, JUN, TP53, FOS, MYC, and HSP90AA1 play a key role in immune responses.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gabriel Marcelino-Perez, Roberto Ruiz-Medrano, Salvador Gallardo-Hernandez, Beatriz Xoconostle-Cazares
Summary: This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with human beta-defensin-2 and its mutants against Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. The results showed that the MSN loaded with AMPs inhibited the growth of Cmm and protected AMPs from enzymatic degradation.
Article
Cell Biology
Tamina Rueckert, Geoffroy Andrieux, Melanie Boerries, Kathrin Hanke-Mueller, Nadine M. Woessner, Stephanie Doetsch, Christoph Schell, Konrad Aumann, Julia Kolter, Annette Schmitt-Graeff, Marcel Schiff, Lukas M. Braun, Eileen Haring, Sandra Kissel, Benjamin A. Siranosian, Ami S. Bhatt, Peter Nordkild, Jan Wehkamp, Benjamin A. H. Jensen, Susana Minguet, Justus Duyster, Robert Zeiser, Natalie Koehler
Summary: This study found that both human and murine acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) lack induction of intestinal beta-defensin. Recombinant hBD-2 may represent a potential therapeutic strategy to counterbalance endogenous hBD-2 deficiency.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Virology
Jessica M. Porter, Mackenzi S. Oswald, Anjali Sharma, Shanan Emmanuel, Austin Kansol, Antonette Bennett, Robert McKenna, Jason G. Smith
Summary: Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are potential gene therapy vectors but are hindered by interactions with the host immune system. This study investigates the interaction between AAVs and alpha-defensins and finds that two closely related AAV serotypes, AAV1 and AAV6, exhibit different sensitivities to inhibition by alpha-defensins due to a single amino acid variation. These findings provide insights into the mechanism of immune defense against AAVs and offer possibilities for designing more efficient vectors.
JOURNAL OF VIROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Liqun Zhang, Santosh K. Ghosh, Shrikanth C. Basavarajappa, Yinghua Chen, Pravesh Shrestha, Jackson Penfield, Ann Brewer, Parameswaran Ramakrishnan, Matthias Buck, Aaron Weinberg
Summary: A study has found that a host defense peptide called hBD-2 can bind to the SARS-CoV-2 virus and prevent it from binding to the ACE2 receptor, offering potential for the development of new antiviral treatments.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tadsanee Awang, Phoom Chairatana, Ranjit Vijayan, Prapasiri Pongprayoon
Summary: The study found that HD5 exhibited different binding mechanisms at different positions along the bacterial membrane. Arginines were key components for tighter binding with certain components of the membrane, while 3-deoxy-d-manno-octulosonic acid (KDO) appeared to influence the rate of HD5 penetration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nathalia Mayumi Noda-Nicolau, Mariana de Castro Silva, Giovana Fernanda Cosi Bento, Jeniffer Sena Baptista Ferreira, Juliano Novak, Julia Andrade Pessoa Morales, Julia Abbade Tronco, Aline Nascimento Bolpetti, Gabriel Vitor Silva Pinto, Jossimara Polettini, Camila Marconi, Marcia Guimaraes da Silva
Summary: This study found lower levels of hBDs1-3 in cervicovaginal fluids of women with bacterial vaginosis compared to those with normal microbiota. Lower levels of hBDs1-3 were independently associated with bacterial vaginosis.
Article
Microbiology
Maria Soledad Miro, Juan Pablo Caeiro, Emilse Rodriguez, Lara Vargas, Cecilia Vigezzi, Paula A. Icely, Graciela D. V. Castillo, Ana I. Azcurra, Claudio D. Abiega, Fernando O. Riera, Claudia E. Sotomayor
Summary: This study investigates the pathogenesis of VVC and RVVC, finding that BD1 expression is severely diminished in RVVC patients and that proteinase and lipase secreted by C. albicans are involved in this decrease.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jing Huang, Xiao Liu, Yufan Sun, Chao Huang, Antian Wang, Jiajia Xu, Hongbo Zhou, Lu Li, Rui Zhou
Summary: Swine influenza virus (SIV) causes economic losses and poses a threat to public health. Porcine beta-defensin 2 (PBD-2) has been shown to inhibit SIV proliferation and alleviate clinical signs in a transgenic pig model. PBD-2 interferes with viral entry and post-infection stages, and interacts with pro-apoptotic protein SLC25A4 to prevent SIV-induced cell apoptosis.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura Schwartz, M. Skye Bochter, Aaron Simoni, Kristin Bender, Juan de Dios Ruiz Rosado, Israel Cotzomi-Ortega, Yuriko I. Sanchez-Zamora, Brian Becknell, Sarah Linn, Birong Li, Nicholas Santoro, Tad Eichler, John David Spencer
Summary: Enhancing the expression of antimicrobial peptides provides an alternative approach for the treatment of urinary tract infections. This study discovered that histone deacetylase inhibitors can induce the expression of ribonuclease 4 and 7, protecting human kidney and bladder cells from uropathogenic bacteria. Mouse experiments confirmed the protective effects of these inhibitors.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
E. Deniz Tekin, Metin Calisir
Summary: This study used molecular dynamics simulations to investigate and compare the structural properties of human beta-defensin-1, -2, and -3. The results showed that human beta-defensin-3 has a more flexible structure in water and the location of salt bridges is important for protein stability.
EUROPEAN PHYSICAL JOURNAL E
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Piotr Brzoza, Urszula Godlewska, Arkadiusz Borek, Agnieszka Morytko, Aneta Zegar, Patrycja Kwiecinska, Brian A. Zabel, Artur Osyczka, Mateusz Kwitniewski, Joanna Cichy
Summary: This review focuses on exploring cysteine-based redox active antimicrobial proteins/peptides in the skin and intestine, discussing the causal links between different redox environments of these barrier tissues and the ability of AMPs to control cutaneous and intestinal microbes, and highlighting how bacteria can influence the bactericidal potential of redox-sensitive AMPs through intrinsic mechanisms.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ga-Hyun Son, Jae-Jun Lee, Youngmi Kim, Keun-Young Lee
Summary: The article describes the role of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in preterm births (PTBs), focusing on the changes of AMPs in the development of the disease, and proposing new perspectives on the role of AMPs in PTB.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
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)