Title:Antiviral Activities of Human Host Defense Peptides
Volume: 27
Issue: 9
Author(s): David C. Brice and Gill Diamond*
Affiliation:
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida, Box 100424, Gainesville, Florida 32610,United States
Keywords:
Antimicrobial peptide, host defense peptide, virus, defensin, LL-37, innate immunity.
Abstract: Peptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity are found widely expressed throughout
nature. As they participate in a number of different aspects of innate immunity in mammals, they have
been termed Host Defense Peptides (HDPs). Due to their common structural features, including an
amphipathic structure and cationic charge, they have been widely shown to interact with and disrupt
microbial membranes. Thus, it is not surprising that human HDPs have activity against enveloped viruses
as well as bacteria and fungi. However, these peptides also exhibit activity against a wide range
of non-enveloped viruses as well, acting at a number of different steps in viral infection. This review
focuses on the activity of human host defense peptides, including alpha- and beta-defensins and the sole
human cathelicidin, LL-37, against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The broad spectrum of
antiviral activity of these peptides, both in vitro and in vivo suggest that they play an important role in
the innate antiviral defense against viral infections. Furthermore, the literature suggests that they may
be developed into antiviral therapeutic agents.