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Antimicrobial Peptides

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Book cover Management of Infections in the Immunocompromised Host

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small proteins synthesized predominantly by leukocytes. Although discovered about a century ago, interest in AMPs has only recently burgeoned, largely fueled by the need for alternative therapeutics against drug-resistant infections. AMPs are widely distributed; they are found intracellularly, in body fluids and at mucosal surfaces. Although their primary physiological function is considered protection against infections, it is increasingly evident that the role of AMPs may also extend to wound healing and immunomodulation. Several studies have associated dysregulation of AMPs with predisposition to infectious diseases and immune disorders, although causality remains to be established. Naturally occurring and synthetic AMPs have been developed for treatment of infections. However, as with antibiotics, pathogens acquire resistance to AMPs, which have posed an obstacle to their clinical development. The current review provides a brief overview of this complex and evolving field.

This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health/National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, AI111728, AI118161, AI119327, and AI114790.

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  1. Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA

    Srinjoy Chakraborti & Sanjay Ram

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  1. Srinjoy Chakraborti
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Correspondence to Sanjay Ram .

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  1. Departments of Medicine and Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, New York, USA

    Brahm H. Segal

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Chakraborti, S., Ram, S. (2018). Antimicrobial Peptides. In: Segal, B. (eds) Management of Infections in the Immunocompromised Host. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-77674-3_5

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