AMPHIBIAN SKIN - A PROMISING RESOURCE FOR ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES

Amphibian skin is a rich source of biologically active compounds that are assumed to have diverse physiological and defence functions. In ad dition to the range of pharmacologically active peptides present, some of which have mammalian homologues, skin secretions contain a broad s pectrum of antimicrobial peptides, As yet, such peptides from only a f ew species have been studied, and screening of other species is expect ed to yield further new antimicrobial activities, Natural antimicrobia l peptides isolated from amphibian skin could provide lead structures for either the chemical, or rDNA synthesis of novel antimicrobials.