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dc.rights.licenseCC-BY-NC-ND
dc.contributor.advisorRooijakkers, Suzan
dc.contributor.authorBerends, E.T.M.
dc.date.accessioned2010-09-21T17:00:28Z
dc.date.available2010-09-21
dc.date.available2010-09-21T17:00:28Z
dc.date.issued2010
dc.identifier.urihttps://studenttheses.uu.nl/handle/20.500.12932/5742
dc.description.abstractAntimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of the innate immune system of many vertebrate and invertebrate species. These small peptides directly kill microorganisms by inducing microbial cell death. This review focuses on the mechanisms of direct antimicrobial effects against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria of the main human AMPs, α-defensins, β-defensins, the cathelicidin LL-37 and the histatins. Effectiveness of the AMPs is dependent on both the properties of the AMPs and the target microbe. The size, cationic charge and amphipathicity allows AMPs to target and disrupt the membrane integrity of several bacteria. Different mechanisms of lipid bilayer disruption by AMPs are described by the ‘barrel-stave’, the ‘toroidal-pore’ and the ‘carpet’ model. Although these models are generally accepted to clarify direct antimicrobial killing by AMPs, the precise mechanisms of the main human AMPs remains to be clarified. In addition, the microbicidal activity of some AMPs might be explained by other mechanisms.
dc.description.sponsorshipUtrecht University
dc.format.extent723853 bytes
dc.format.extent57621 bytes
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.language.isoen
dc.titleRole of antimicrobial peptides in human innate defense against bacteria
dc.type.contentMaster Thesis
dc.rights.accessrightsOpen Access
dc.subject.keywordsantimicrobial peptides
dc.subject.keywordsdefensins
dc.subject.keywordscathelicidins
dc.subject.keywordshistatins
dc.subject.keywordsbacteria
dc.subject.courseuuInfection and Immunity


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