Applications and implications of mammalian antimicrobial peptides-a review

Antimicrobial peptides are host defense peptides that are present in members of both Kingdoms Plantae vis-à-vis Animalia. These comprise of a number of structurally diverse peptides which are upto 100 amino acid in length. These antimicrobial peptides are part of the inherent innate immune system of the host and are responsible for carrying out diverse activities ranging from killings the invading pathogens, modifying and regulating the immune system in executing these processes. In the immune system they have diverse functions such as acting as chemotaxis, modulation of inflammation, regulation of expression of inflammatory cytokines preventing hypersensitivity. Antimicrobial peptides are presently under trials for development of novel antibiotics which can be used for treatment of multidrug resistant pathogens. Currently different antimicrobial peptides are used as food preservatives and for prevention of microbes, like methicillin resistant S. aureus among others.