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Advances in Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Public Health pp 59–76Cite as

β-Defensins: Work in Progress

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Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AMIDPH,volume 901))

Abstract

Defensins are a group of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) found in different living organisms, and are involved in the first line of defense in the innate immune response against pathogens. The increase in the resistance of bacteria to conventional antibiotics and the need for new antibiotics has stimulated interest in the use of AMPs as new therapeutic agents. The inducible nature of human defensin genes suggests that it is possible to increase the endogenous production by utilizing small molecules of various origins to enhance, even selectively, the expression of these peptides. In the light of their role in immunomodulation, angiogenesis, wound healing, inflammation and cancer, as well as their antimicrobial activity, it is possible induce their expression or create analogs with increased specific activity or various degrees of selectivity, or obtain human defensins with genetic engineering to optimize the potency and safety in order to reduce cytotoxicity and potential proinflammatory activity and susceptibility to protease and salt. Restoring the balance between immunostimulating and immunosuppressive molecules may be an important strategy to correct expression defects in specific diseases.

Authors’ Contributions

GD, IP, AB: Prepared and edited the manuscript. AF, BP, EB: Edited the manuscript. All authors added intellectual content, read and approved the final version

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Acknowledgements

We thank Prof Maria Antonietta Tufano (Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Second University of Naples) for sharing its scientific expertise with us and for valuable discussions.

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The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Second University of Naples, via De Crecchio n°7, 80138, Naples, Italy

    Giovanna Donnarumma, Iole Paoletti, Alessandra Fusco, Brunella Perfetto & Elisabetta Buommino

  2. Center for Advanced Biomaterial for Health Care Technology, Italian Institute of Technology, Largo Barsanti E Matteucci 53, 80125, Naples, Italy

    Vincenza de Gregorio

  3. Multidisciplinary Department of Medical-Surgical and Dental Speciality-Dermatology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    Adone Baroni

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  1. Giovanna Donnarumma
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Correspondence to Giovanna Donnarumma .

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  1. Microbial Biofilm Laboratory, Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy

    Gianfranco Donelli

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Donnarumma, G. et al. (2015). β-Defensins: Work in Progress. In: Donelli, G. (eds) Advances in Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Public Health. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology(), vol 901. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/5584_2015_5016

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