| | |  | | | | Record from Web of Science® | | | | | | |
| Antimicrobial peptides of multicellular organisms |
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| Author(s): Zasloff M |
| Source: NATURE Volume: 415 Issue: 6870 Pages: 389-395 Published: JAN 24 2002 |
| Times Cited: 1,674 References: 74 |
| Abstract: Multicellular organisms live, by and large, harmoniously with microbes. The cornea of the eye of an animal is almost always free of signs of infection. The insect flourishes without lymphocytes or antibodies. A plant seed germinates successfully in the midst of soil microbes. How is this accomplished? Both animals and plants possess potent, broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides, which they use to fend off a wide range of microbes, including bacteria, fungi, viruses and protozoa. What sorts of molecules are they? How are they employed by animals in their defence? As our need for new antibiotics becomes more pressing, could we design anti-infective drugs based on the design principles these molecules teach us? |
| Document Type: Review |
| Language: English |
| Reprint Address: Zasloff, M (reprint author), Georgetown Univ, Med Ctr, 4000 Reservoir Rd NW, Washington, DC 20007 USA |
Addresses:
1. Univ Penn, Sch Med, Dept Biochem & Biophys, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA |
| Publisher: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP, MACMILLAN BUILDING, 4 CRINAN ST, LONDON N1 9XW, ENGLAND |
| Subject Category: Multidisciplinary Sciences |
| IDS Number: 514HR |
| ISSN: 0028-0836 |
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| | | | | | | | | Record from Web of Science® | | | | | | | | | |