Conferences
24 February–1 March 2013, Ventura, CA, USA
Antimicrobial Peptides: Discovery, Function and Application
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are host-defense molecules produced by all living organisms, including bacteria, fungi, plants, invertebrates, and vertebrates. The peptides exhibit potent cytotoxic activity against all microbes, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. There is now evidence in humans and other mammals that these peptides represent a key component of host defense at epithelial surfaces, the barrier between the external environment and the interior milieu, interacting with both symbionts and pathogens. Members of these large families also have activities far beyond being directly antimicrobial, including immunity, wound healing, fertility, and as ligands for numerous receptors leading to the induction of a variety of signaling pathways. Furthermore, significant research has been carried out to develop these naturally occurring peptides as therapeutic agents against microbial infections.
