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Avian antimicrobial proteins: structure, distribution and activity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 September 2007

O. WELLMAN-LABADIE
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
J. PICMAN
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, 30 Marie Curie, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5
M.T. HINCKE*
Affiliation:
Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, 451 Smyth Road, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1H 8M5
*
*Corresponding author: mhincke@uottawa.ca
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Abstract

Antimicrobial proteins are active against protozoans, fungi, viruses as well as gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. In many cases, antimicrobial proteins are present as components of innate immunity and are capable of evading bacterial resistance mechanisms. Due to these characteristics, these proteins represent an appealing alternative to conventional antibiotic drugs. Considerable research has been conducted on antimicrobial proteins from invertebrate and mammalian sources. Within the last decade, over 20 novel antimicrobial proteins have been isolated from avian systems. The majority of these proteins has been isolated from the domestic chicken and therefore represents a minuscule fraction of the avian antimicrobial proteins that are potentially awaiting discovery. In this review, we elaborate on these discoveries and on the future of avian antimicrobial protein research.

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Type
Review Article
Copyright
Copyright © World's Poultry Science Association 2007

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