Insights into the antimicrobial properties of hepcidins: advantages and drawbacks as potential therapeutic agents.

ABSTRACT: The increasing frequency of multi-drug resistant microorganisms has driven research into alternative therapeutic strategies. In this respect, natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) hold much promise as candidates for the development of novel antibiotics. However, AMPs have some intrinsic drawbacks, such as partial degradation by host proteases or inhibition by host body fluid composition, potential toxicity, and high production costs. This review focuses on the hepcidins, which are peptides produced by the human liver with a known role in iron homeostasis, as well by numerous other organisms (including fish, reptiles, other mammals), and their potential as antibacterial and antifungal agents. Interestingly, the antimicrobial properties of human hepcidins are enhanced at acidic pH, rendering

SUBMITTER: Lombardi L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6272296 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature