Peptide defensin fights pathogens: animals

Defensins are naturally produced peptides that inhibit pathogen growth and degrade pathogen toxins by binding to the pathogens

Biomimicry Taxonomy

	Maintain physical integrity >
	Protect from biotic factors >
	Microbes

Biomimetic Application Ideas

Development of nontoxic peptide antibiotics synthesizing defensins, especially for drug-resistant pathogens, therapeutic strategies that use the defensin strategy of neutralizing pathogenic bacterial invasion and bacterial toxins; stimulation of defensin production in vivo by ingesting vitamin D and other nutritional supplements; feeding wild birds and farmed poultry vitamin D and other products that stimulate the production of defensins to combat avian influenza and other viruses. SEE COMPANY POLYMEDIX IN CASE STUDIES

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[Collapse all sections] Summary

“In addition to their bacterial membrane permeabilizing capacity, defensins have been shown to neutralize bacterial invasion by directly binding to bacterial toxins….Similar properties have been described for retrocyclins, a class of circular defensins found in non-human primates, which were shown to bind to the anthrax lethal factor with high affinity [66].” (de Leeuw and Lu 2007:69)

About the inspiring organism

Animalia
Animalia

Organism/taxonomy data provided by:
Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2008 Annual Checklist

Bioinspired products and application ideas

Application Ideas: Development of nontoxic peptide antibiotics synthesizing defensins, especially for drug-resistant pathogens, therapeutic strategies that use the defensin strategy of neutralizing pathogenic bacterial invasion and bacterial toxins; stimulation of defensin production in vivo by ingesting vitamin D and other nutritional supplements; feeding wild birds and farmed poultry vitamin D and other products that stimulate the production of defensins to combat avian influenza and other viruses. SEE COMPANY POLYMEDIX IN CASE STUDIES

Industrial Sector(s) interested in this strategy: Drug Development, Medicine, Human Health, Nutrition, Veterinary Medicine

Experts

Institute of Human Virology
Erik de Leeuw Wuyuan Lu
University of Maryland Biotechnology Institute

References

de Leeuw, E.; Lu, W. 2007. Human defensins: turning defense into offense?. Infectious Disorders Drug Targets. 7(1): 67-70.

Zou, G.; De Leeuw, E.; Li, C.; Pazgier, M.; Li, C.; Zeng, P.; Lu, W-Y.; Lubkowski, J.; Lu, W. 2007. Toward understanding the cationicity of defensins. The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 282(27): 19653-19665.

Peptide defensin fights pathogens: animals

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