Antimicrobial peptides in human health and disease

Introduction. General Concepts of Antimicrobial Peptides, Past and Future. Section 1. Select Diverse Peptides with Antimicrobial Action in Humans. 1. The Role of Cathelicidins in the Innate Host Defences of Mammals. 2. The Role of Alpha and Beta Defensins in Human Defense. 3. Granulysin. 4. Hepcidin. Section 2 Tissues and their use of Antimicrobial Peptides. 5. Antimicrobial Peptides in Human Blood. 6. The Role of Paneth Cell a-Defensins in Enteric Innate Immunity. 7. Lung. 8. Antimicrobial Peptides in the Oral Environment: Expression and Function in Health and Disease. 9. Natural Antimicrobial Peptides: A Barrier against Human Skin Infection. Section 3 Clinical Concepts. 10. Antimicrobial Peptide Resistance in Human Bacterial Pathogens. 11. A Pediatric Perspective on Antimicrobial Proteins and Peptides: Expression, Function, and Clinical Relevance. 12. Therapeutic Applications of Innate Immunity Peptides.