The effect of the O-antigen of LPS to Host Defense Peptides

Abstract

Recent theories suggested that activity of host defense peptides is enhanced by the presence of an O-antigen. In this study, HDP activity was correlated to binding affinity of HDPs to LPS with and without an O-antigen. The results showed no significant differences between with bacteria or LPS with an O-antigen and bacteria or LPS without an O-antigen. This suggests there is no important role for the O-antigen in the antimicrobial function of HDPs.