Table 1. Cationic antimicrobial peptides (Modified with permission  from Vizioli and Salzet, 2002).

Structure and representative Peptides

Organism Antimicrobial activity References
Linear α-helix peptides
Cecropins

Insects, pig

Bacteria, fungi, virus,

Andreu and Rivas, 1998; Putsep et al. 1999; Zasloff, 2002; Vizioli and Salzet, 2003
Clavanin, styelin Tunicates Bacteria Zasloff, 2002
Megainin, dermaseptin Amphibians Bacteria, protozoa Zasloff, 2002, Vizioli and Salzet, 2003
Buforins Amphibians Bacteria, fungi Park et al. 1996, 1998; Zasloff, 2002
Pleurocidin Fish Bacteria, fungi Cole et al. 2000
Moronecidin Fish Bacteria Lauth et al. 2002
Linear peptides amino acid-rich      
Pro-rich:      
Drosocin, metchnikowins Fruit fly Bacteria Bulet et al. 1999
Pyrrhocoricin Hemipteran Bacteria, fungi Bulet et al. 1999
metalnikowin Hemipteran Bacteria, fungi Bulet et al. 1999
Gly-rich:      
Diptericins, attacins Dipterans Bacteria Bulet et al. 1999
shepherin I and shepherin II Plants Bacteria G-  , fungi Park et al. 2000
Ac-AMP1- Ac-AMP2 Plants Bacteria G+, fungi Broekaert et al. 1992
His-rich      
Histatin Human Bacteria, fungi Andreu and Rivas, 1998; Zasloff, 2002
shepherin I and shepherin II Plants Bacteria G-  , fungi Park et al. 2000
Try-rich      
Indolicidin Cattle Bacteria Andreu and Rivas, 1998; Zasloff, 2002
Tritrpticin, lactoferrin B, LfcinB4-9               Eukaryots               Bacteria Schibli et al. 2002
Single disulfide bridge      
Thanatin Hemipteran Bacteria, fungi Dimarcq et al. 1998; Bulet et al. 1999; Zasloff, 2002
Brevinins Frog Bacteria Andreu and Rivas, 1998; Zasloff, 2002
Lanthionins   Bacteria G+ Bacteria Hancock, 2000
Two disulfide bridges      
Tachyplesin II Horseshoe crab Bacteria, fungi, virus Andreu and Rivas, 1998, Dimarq et al. 1998; Zasloff, 2002
Androctonin Scorpion Bacteria, fungi Dimarq et al. 1998; Zasloff, 2002
Protegrin I Pig Bacteria, fungi, virus Zasloff, 2002
Three disulfide bridges      
α Defensins Mammals Bacteria, fungi Andreu and Rivas, 1998; Zasloff, 2002
β Defensins Mammals Bacteria, fungi Andreu and Rivas, 1998; Zasloff, 2002
Defensis Insects Bacteria, fungi, protozoa Dimarq et al. 1998; Bulet et al. 1999; Vizioli and Salzet, 2003
Penaeidins Shrimp Bacteria, fungi Dimarq et al. 1998; Bulet et al. 1999; Vizioli and Salzet, 2003
More than three disulfide bridges      
Tachycitin Horseshoe crab Bacteria, fungi Dimarq et al. 1998
Drosomycin Fruit fly Fungi Dimarq et al. 1998
Gambicin Mosquito Bacteria, fungi, protozoa Vizioli et al. 2001
Heliomicin Lepidopteran Bacteria, fungi Lamberty et al. 2001
Plant defensins      
defensin protein WT1 Plants Fungi Saitoh et al. 2001
alfAFP defensin Plants Fungi Gao et al. 2000
cysteine-rich Plants Bacteria , fungi Tailor et al. 1997
So-D1-7 Plants Bacteria ,fungi Segura et al.. 1998
DmAMP1 Plants Fungi Thevissen et al. 2000

 

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