Mammalian antimicrobial peptides

Antimicrobial peptides play a significant role in innate and adaptive immunity, and are particularly important in the first line of defense against microbial invaders. These mostly cationic peptides have a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, kill invaders rapidly by interaction with the membrane, they are synergistic with endogenous antimicrobial proteins and classical antibiotics, neutralize endotoxins, and have multiple roles as immunomodulators. This review centers on antimicrobial peptides produced in mammals, summarizes their structural characteristics and classification, gene expression and biosynthesis, biological activities, and discusses their prospects for the anti-microbial therapy.