Host defense peptides and the new line of defence against multiresistant infections

Tobias Hirsch; Frank Jacobsen; Hans-Ulrich Steinau; Lars Steinstraesser

doi:10.2174/092986608783744252

Host defense peptides and the new line of defence against multiresistant infections

Protein Pept Lett. 2008;15(3):238-43. doi: 10.2174/092986608783744252.

Authors

Tobias Hirsch¹, Frank Jacobsen, Hans-Ulrich Steinau, Lars Steinstraesser

Affiliation

¹ Department for Plastic Surgery, Burn Center, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany.

PMID: 18336350
DOI: 10.2174/092986608783744252

Abstract

Increasing antibiotic resistance has led to an urgent need for new therapeutic approaches. Host defense peptides are known to be antimicrobial and have revealed broad immunomodulatory functions for both innate and adaptive immunity. This review will focus on the role of host defense peptides in infection and immune response and discuss its potential and limitations as a future therapeutical agent.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry*
Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemistry*
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / therapeutic use*
Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
Bacterial Infections / immunology
Drug Design
Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial
Immunity, Innate

Substances

Anti-Bacterial Agents
Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides