Defensins

Defensins are a class of antimicrobial peptides that play a crucial role in the innate immune system of plants and animals. They are expressed predominantly in neutrophils and epithelial cells, contributing to the antimicrobial action of granulocytes and mucosal or epithelial host defense in various parts of the body. Defensins exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and they also possess immunomodulatory functions. Recent studies have highlighted their potential role in inhibiting SARS-CoV-2 infection and their multifaceted impact on host immunity, including both protective and, in certain cases, pathogenic properties
Ganz 2003 Nat Rev Immunol. 3(9): 710-20
Xu & Lu 2020
Xu et al. 2021h Viruses 13(7): 1246

Defensins are expressed as prepropeptides and exhibit sev…