1. Evolution, expression and effectiveness in a cluster of novel bovine beta-defensins.
- Author
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Cormican P, Meade KG, Cahalane S, Narciandi F, Chapwanya A, Lloyd AT, and O'Farrelly C
- Subjects
- Amino Acid Sequence, Animals, Bacteria drug effects, Biological Evolution, Molecular Sequence Data, RNA, Messenger analysis, beta-Defensins chemistry, beta-Defensins pharmacology, Cattle immunology, beta-Defensins genetics
- Abstract
The anti-microbial peptides beta-defensins constitute a large family of innate immune effector molecules, conserved across a wide species range. In this paper, we describe a systematic search of the sequenced bovine genome to characterise this extensive gene family in Bos taurus, providing an insight into the pattern of conservation of beta-defensin genes between species. We have sequenced a sub-set of these newly discovered bovine beta-defensin genes and also report expression data for these genes across a range of tissues. We have synthesised the peptide product of one of these genes, bovine beta-defensin 123, and found it to be a potent inhibitor of several pathogenic microbes, particularly Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes.
- Published
- 2008
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