Animal antimicrobial peptides: An overview

Antibiotic peptides are a key component of the innate immune systems of mos t multi-cellular organisms. Despite broad divergences in sequence and taxon omy most antibiotic peptides shale a common mechanism of action, i.e., memb rane permeabilization of the pathogen. This review provides a general intro duction to the subject, with emphasis on aspects such as structural types, post-translational modifications, mode of action or mechanisms of resistanc e. Some of these questions are treated in depth in other reviews in this is sue. The review also discusses the role of antimicrobial peptides in nature , including several pathological conditions, as well as recent accounts of their application at the preclinical level. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc .