First record of host defence peptides in tadpoles. The magnificent tree frog Litoria splendida

Tadpoles of the Magnificent Tree Frog Litoria splendida produce host defenc e peptides early in their development and well before metamorphosis. Peptid es were identified and characterized using high performance liquid chromato graphy and electrospray mass spectrometry. No host defence peptides were id entified in the eggs. The neuropeptide caerulein was detected 10 d after eg g deposition, and the antibiotic peptides caerin 1.1, caerin 1.6 and caerin 3.1 first appeared at 14 d. The concentration of peptides increases with t he onset of metamorphosis at 84 d, when the host-defence peptide profile is the same as that of the adult.