Marsupial cathelicidins: characterization, antimicrobial activity and evolution in this unique mammalian lineage.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Cathelicidins are a family of antimicrobial peptides well-known for their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions in eutherian mammals such as humans. However, cathelicidins in marsupials, the other major lineage of mammals, have received little attention despite lineage-specific gene expansions resulting in a large and diverse peptide repertoire.

Methods

We characterized cathelicidins across the marsupial family tree and investigated genomic organisation and evolutionary relationships amongst mammals. Ancestral sequence reconstruction was used to predict ancestral marsupial cathelicidins, which, alongside extant peptides, were synthesized and screened for antimicrobial activity.

Results

We identified 130 cathelicidin genes amongst 14 marsupial speci

SUBMITTER: Peel E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12006171 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature