Open Access
Review (Published online: 15-02-2018)
17. Antimicrobial peptides of buffalo and their role in host defenses
Khangembam Victoria Chanu, Dimpal Thakuria and Satish Kumar
Veterinary World, 11(2): 192-200

Khangembam Victoria Chanu: ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal - 263 136, Uttarakhand, India.
Dimpal Thakuria: ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal - 263 136, Uttarakhand, India.
Satish Kumar: ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly - 243 122, Uttar Pradesh, India.

doi: 10.14202/vetworld.2018.192-200

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Article history: Received: 07-10-2017, Accepted: 16-01-2018, Published online: 15-02-2018

Corresponding author: Dimpal Thakuria

E-mail: drdimpal@gmail.com

Citation: Chanu KV, Thakuria D, Kumar S (2018) Antimicrobial peptides of buffalo and their role in host defenses, Veterinary World, 11(2): 192-200.
Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are highly conserved components of the innate immune system found among all classes of life. Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), an important livestock for milk and meat production, is known to have a better resistance to many diseases as compared to cattle. They are found to express many AMPs such as defensins, cathelicidins, and hepcidin which play an important role in neutralizing the invading pathogens. Buffalo AMPs exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Similar to its natural form, synthetic analogs of buffalo AMPs are also antimicrobial against bacteria and even fungus making them a good target for the development of therapeutic antimicrobials. In addition to its antimicrobial effect, AMPs have been demonstrated to have a number of immunomodulatory functions, and their genes are responsive to infections. Further, induction of their gene expression by external factors may help in preventing infectious diseases. This review briefly discusses the AMPs of buffalo identified to date and their possible role in innate immunity.

Keywords: antimicrobial peptides, Bubalus bubalis, cathelicidins, defensin, hepcidin.

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