Antimicrobial Peptides in Reptiles
Reptiles are among the oldest known amniotes and are highly diverse in their morphology and ecological niches. These animals have an evolutionarily ancient innate-immune system that is of great interest to scientists trying to identify new and useful antimicrobial peptides. Significant work in the...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2014-06-01
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| Series: | Pharmaceuticals |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/7/6/723 |
| _version_ | 1828824918179971072 |
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| author | Monique L. van Hoek |
| author_facet | Monique L. van Hoek |
| author_sort | Monique L. van Hoek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Reptiles are among the oldest known amniotes and are highly diverse in their morphology and ecological niches. These animals have an evolutionarily ancient innate-immune system that is of great interest to scientists trying to identify new and useful antimicrobial peptides. Significant work in the last decade in the fields of biochemistry, proteomics and genomics has begun to reveal the complexity of reptilian antimicrobial peptides. Here, the current knowledge about antimicrobial peptides in reptiles is reviewed, with specific examples in each of the four orders: Testudines (turtles and tortosises), Sphenodontia (tuataras), Squamata (snakes and lizards), and Crocodilia (crocodilans). Examples are presented of the major classes of antimicrobial peptides expressed by reptiles including defensins, cathelicidins, liver-expressed peptides (hepcidin and LEAP-2), lysozyme, crotamine, and others. Some of these peptides have been identified and tested for their antibacterial or antiviral activity; others are only predicted as possible genes from genomic sequencing. Bioinformatic analysis of the reptile genomes is presented, revealing many predicted candidate antimicrobial peptides genes across this diverse class. The study of how these ancient creatures use antimicrobial peptides within their innate immune systems may reveal new understandings of our mammalian innate immune system and may also provide new and powerful antimicrobial peptides as scaffolds for potential therapeutic development. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:07:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-afcfe8ecd2054b3b9fa0795ab97ec0f2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1424-8247 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T14:07:24Z |
| publishDate | 2014-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Pharmaceuticals |
| spelling | doaj.art-afcfe8ecd2054b3b9fa0795ab97ec0f22022-12-22T00:22:11ZengMDPI AGPharmaceuticals1424-82472014-06-017672375310.3390/ph7060723ph7060723Antimicrobial Peptides in ReptilesMonique L. van Hoek0National Center for Biodefense and Infectious Diseases, and School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, MS1H8, 10910 University Blvd, Manassas, VA 20110, USAReptiles are among the oldest known amniotes and are highly diverse in their morphology and ecological niches. These animals have an evolutionarily ancient innate-immune system that is of great interest to scientists trying to identify new and useful antimicrobial peptides. Significant work in the last decade in the fields of biochemistry, proteomics and genomics has begun to reveal the complexity of reptilian antimicrobial peptides. Here, the current knowledge about antimicrobial peptides in reptiles is reviewed, with specific examples in each of the four orders: Testudines (turtles and tortosises), Sphenodontia (tuataras), Squamata (snakes and lizards), and Crocodilia (crocodilans). Examples are presented of the major classes of antimicrobial peptides expressed by reptiles including defensins, cathelicidins, liver-expressed peptides (hepcidin and LEAP-2), lysozyme, crotamine, and others. Some of these peptides have been identified and tested for their antibacterial or antiviral activity; others are only predicted as possible genes from genomic sequencing. Bioinformatic analysis of the reptile genomes is presented, revealing many predicted candidate antimicrobial peptides genes across this diverse class. The study of how these ancient creatures use antimicrobial peptides within their innate immune systems may reveal new understandings of our mammalian innate immune system and may also provide new and powerful antimicrobial peptides as scaffolds for potential therapeutic development.http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/7/6/723antimicrobial peptidesantibacterialreptilebiofilmbroad-spectrumGram-positiveGram-negative |
| spellingShingle | Monique L. van Hoek Antimicrobial Peptides in Reptiles Pharmaceuticals antimicrobial peptides antibacterial reptile biofilm broad-spectrum Gram-positive Gram-negative |
| title | Antimicrobial Peptides in Reptiles |
| title_full | Antimicrobial Peptides in Reptiles |
| title_fullStr | Antimicrobial Peptides in Reptiles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antimicrobial Peptides in Reptiles |
| title_short | Antimicrobial Peptides in Reptiles |
| title_sort | antimicrobial peptides in reptiles |
| topic | antimicrobial peptides antibacterial reptile biofilm broad-spectrum Gram-positive Gram-negative |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/7/6/723 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT moniquelvanhoek antimicrobialpeptidesinreptiles |