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Antiviral Mechanisms of Human Defensins
- Source :
- Journal of Molecular Biology
- Publication Year :
- 2013
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2013.
-
Abstract
- Defensins are an effector component of the innate immune system with broad antimicrobial activity. Humans express two types of defensins, α- and β-defensins, which have antiviral activity against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. The diversity of defensin-sensitive viral species reflects a multitude of antiviral mechanisms. These include direct defensin targeting of viral envelopes, glycoproteins, and capsids in addition to inhibition of viral fusion and post-entry neutralization. Binding and modulation of host cell surface receptors and disruption of intracellular signaling by defensins can also inhibit viral replication. In addition, defensins can function as chemokines to augment and alter adaptive immune responses, revealing an indirect antiviral mechanism. Nonetheless, many questions regarding the antiviral activities of defensins remain. Although significant mechanistic data are known for α-defensins, molecular details for β-defensin inhibition are mostly lacking. Importantly, the role of defensin antiviral activity in vivo has not been addressed due to the lack of a complete defensin knockout model. Overall, the antiviral activity of defensins is well established as are the variety of mechanisms by which defensins achieve this inhibition; however, additional research is needed to fully understand the role of defensins in viral pathogenesis.
- Subjects :
- alpha-Defensins
beta-Defensins
Viral pathogenesis
Receptors, Cell Surface
Biology
Virus Replication
Antiviral Agents
Article
Defensins
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Immune system
Viral envelope
Structural Biology
Humans
Molecular Biology
Defensin
030304 developmental biology
Host cell surface
0303 health sciences
Innate immune system
integumentary system
fungi
Models, Immunological
hemic and immune systems
respiratory system
bacterial infections and mycoses
Virology
Immunity, Innate
3. Good health
Beta defensin
Viral replication
Viruses
Signal Transduction
030215 immunology
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 00222836
- Volume :
- 425
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Journal of Molecular Biology
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a60b94358a23db54a3b374b70fc7019a