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
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Danielle Minns, Katie J. Smith, Virginia Alessandrini, Gareth Hardisty, Lauren Melrose, Lucy Jackson-Jones, Andrew S. MacDonald, Donald J. Davidson, Emily Gwyer Findlay
Summary: The host defence peptide cathelicidin is a potent Th17 potentiator, enhancing aryl hydrocarbon receptor and ROR gamma t expression in a TGF-beta 1-dependent manner, directing T cells towards Th17 phenotype while protecting them from apoptosis. Neutrophils secrete cathelicidin, which is required for maximum Th17 differentiation and plays a role in early neutrophilia directing subsequent adaptive immune responses.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
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
Veterinary Sciences
Stephan Neumann, Stephan Siegert, Anneke Fischer
Summary: This study investigated the correlation between defensin concentration and clinical expression and course of mastitis in cows. The results showed that cows with acute clinical mastitis had the highest defensin concentration, while cows with subclinical mastitis and healthy cows had lower concentrations.
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Parasitology
Kyungjae Andrew Yoon, Do Eun Lee, Si Hyeock Lee, Ju Hyeon Kim
Summary: The body and head lice of humans are conspecific, but only the body louse functions as a vector to transmit bacterial pathogens such as Bartonella quintana. Differences in the molecular and functional properties of the two louse subspecies may contribute to the differential vector competence between them.
PARASITES & VECTORS
(2023)
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.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jung-Kil Seo, Dong-Gyun Kim, Ji-Eun Lee, Kwon-Sam Park, In-Ah Lee, Ki-Young Lee, Young-Ok Kim, Bo-Hye Nam
Summary: Five arginine-rich analogs were designed based on American oyster defensin (AOD), with A3 and A4 showing potent antimicrobial activity against various organisms without cell toxicity. These analogs possibly interact with DNA or DNA amplification reactions instead of directly acting on bacterial membranes, suggesting potential for novel antimicrobial agents.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Celine Landon, Yanyu Zhu, Mainak Mustafi, Jean-Baptiste Madinier, Dominique Lelievre, Vincent Aucagne, Agnes F. Delmas, James C. Weisshaar
Summary: This study used single-cell fluorescence imaging to investigate the effects of the β-defensin AvBD103b on living E. coli at physiological salt concentrations. The results provide key parameters for understanding the mechanism of action. The study found that AvBD103b interacts non-specifically with various polyanionic targets after penetrating the cell membranes, leading to cell death.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tao Gong, Juan Du, Shang-Wei Li, Hai Huang, Xiao-Lang Qi
Summary: A defensin peptide, CcDef2, from Coridius chinensis has been characterized in this study. It has been found to have antibacterial and immune activities, and shows potential as an alternative to antibiotics. Gene expression analysis reveals that CcDef2 is widely expressed during the developmental stages of C. chinensis, with higher expression levels in adult tissues. Recombinant CcDef2 exhibits significant antibacterial effects against Gram-positive bacteria.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Shunyi Zhu, Bin Gao, Yoshitaka Umetsu, Steve Peigneur, Ping Li, Shinya Ohki, Jan Tytgat
Summary: The development of human oral source actinomycesin as a potential systemic therapy drug shows promise in treating oral bacterial infections and experimental infections in mice, indicating a new source of systemic anti-infective drugs.
EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marilucia C. Ribeiro, Rodrigo S. Gebara, Gabriel B. Taveira, Andre de O. Carvalho, Rosana Rodrigues, Erica O. Mello, Celso S. Nagano, Renata P. Chaves, Valdirene M. Gomes
Summary: This study purified and evaluated the antifungal peptides present in the fruits of Capsicum chinense Jacq. The results showed that the D2 fraction of these fruits significantly inhibited the growth of Candida albicans and C. tropicalis yeasts. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the 6 kDa peptide band of the HI9 fraction showed similarity with antimicrobial peptides belonging to the plant defensin family.
PROBIOTICS AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROTEINS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Angus Watson, Jacinta Agius, Danielle Ackerly, Travis Beddoe, Karla Helbig
Summary: Molluscs have limited understanding of their immune systems due to lack of access to draft genomes and divergence from model organisms. They rely on innate immunity and have limited knowledge of their antiviral capabilities. Only a few major effector molecules have shown antiviral activity. Further research on these molecules may enhance molluscs' antiviral defense and result in novel antimicrobial treatments for a broad range of animal species.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Neda Moazzezy, Elham Rismani, Maryam Rezaei, Mohammad Reza Asadi Karam, Sima Rafati, Saeid Bouzari, Mana Oloomi
Summary: The development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics has led to the attention of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). This study computationally investigated the interaction between derived peptides and bacterial membrane and found that the derived peptides could exhibit similar antimicrobial effects to HNP-1. Furthermore, chemical modifications improved the physicochemical properties of the peptides and retained similar binding affinity.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Yi Wang, Yuchi Song, Shaonan Yan, Rina Hiramine, Yuki Ohnishi, Yuki Yokoi, Kiminori Nakamura, Takashi Kikukawa, Tokiyoshi Ayabe, Tomoyasu Aizawa
Summary: This study investigated the antibacterial mechanisms of Cryptdin-4 in different forms (oxidized and reduced states) under different oxygen conditions using Escherichia coli as a model. The results showed that both forms exhibited antimicrobial activity against bacteria under aerobic conditions through rapid membrane depolarization. Under anaerobic conditions, the ability to disrupt bacterial membrane function decreased, but the reduced form still maintained some antimicrobial activity, possibly through DNA binding inhibition of intracellular functions.
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
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Lewis Winning, Christopher C. Patterson, Kathy M. Cullen, Frank Kee, Gerard J. Linden
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY
(2019)
Review
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Siobhan Cushley, Henry F. Duncan, Mark J. Lappin, Phillip L. Tomson, Fionnuala T. Lundy, Paul Cooper, Mike Clarke, Ikhlas A. El Karim
JOURNAL OF DENTISTRY
(2019)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Lewis Winning, Ikhlas A. El Karim, Fionnuala T. Lundy
STEM CELLS AND DEVELOPMENT
(2019)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
R. Rankin, F. T. Lundy, B. C. Schock, S. -D. Zhang, B. Al-Natour, I. About, C. Irwin, G. J. Linden, I. A. El-Karim
INTERNATIONAL ENDODONTIC JOURNAL
(2020)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Lewis Winning, Christopher C. Patterson, Katie Linden, Alun Evans, John Yarnel, Pascal P. McKeown, Frank Kee, Gerard J. Linden
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Fionnuala T. Lundy, Christopher R. Irwin, Denise F. McLean, Gerard J. Linden, Ikhlas A. El Karim
JOURNAL OF ENDODONTICS
(2020)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Lewis Winning, Christopher C. Patterson, Katie Linden, Kathy M. Cullen, Frank Kee, Gerard J. Linden
Summary: The study found that edentulous or men with severe periodontitis in a group of men aged 58-72 in Northern Ireland had a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality. However, systemic inflammation did not play a major explanatory mediator role in this association.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Niamh Kelly, Lewis Winning, Christopher Irwin, Fionnuala T. Lundy, Dermot Linden, Lorcan McGarvey, Gerard J. Linden, Ikhlas A. El Karim
Summary: This systematic review explores the association between poor periodontal health and frequency of COPD exacerbations. Research suggests that periodontal treatment can reduce exacerbation frequency in COPD patients, leading to improved quality of life.
Review
Oncology
Emily McIlvanna, Gerard J. Linden, Stephanie G. Craig, Fionnuala T. Lundy, Jacqueline A. James
Summary: There is a growing interest in the potential role inflammation plays in cancer initiation and progression, with examples such as Helicobacter pylori-mediated inflammation in gastric cancer and more recently, Fusobacterium nucleatum-mediated inflammation in colorectal cancer. Recent studies have shown that Fusobacterium nucleatum can promote cancer through multiple mechanisms, including activation of cell proliferation, promotion of cellular invasion, induction of chronic inflammation, and immune evasion, leading to hypotheses about its potential role in oral cancer development.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Lewis Winning, Ikhlas A. El Karim, Gerard J. Linden, Christopher R. Irwin, Simon A. Killough, Fionnuala T. Lundy
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the regulation of neuropeptide receptor expression on STRO-1 +ve periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) in response to inflammatory cytokines and the potential osteogenic effect of neuropeptides. The results showed that neuropeptide Y had a modest osteogenic effect on STRO-1 +ve PDLSCs and its Y1 receptor gene expression was sensitive to local inflammatory cytokines.
JOURNAL OF PERIODONTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
David M. Wright, Gerry McKenna, Anne Nugent, Lewis Winning, Gerard J. Linden, Jayne Woodside
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL NUTRITION
(2020)
Meeting Abstract
Medicine, General & Internal
C. Woods, G. J. Litherland, A. S. Hursthouse, F. T. Lundy, G. P. Sergeant, J. C. Lockhart, I. S. McLellan
IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2019)
Meeting Abstract
Medicine, General & Internal
T. Alkawadri, K. D. Thornbury, M. A. Hollywood, L. McGarvey, F. Lundy, G. Litherland, G. P. Sergeant
IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2019)
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Celso A. Klein-Junior, Eduardo Reston, Ana M. Plepis, Virginia C. Martins, Isabel C. Potter, Fionnuala Lundy, Guilherme S. Hentschke, Vitor S. Hentschke, Ikhlas El Karim
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE AND CLINICAL DENTISTRY
(2019)
Meeting Abstract
Medicine, General & Internal
J. A. Reihill, Z. Yang, E. Carroll, L. P. McGarvey, F. T. Lundy, J. C. Lockhart, G. Litherland, A. Crilly, S. L. Martin
IRISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCE
(2018)