Cathelicidins, a family of host-defence peptides, are present in a diverse range of species, including fish, amphibians, birds, reptiles, and mammals. The evidence for the role of these cationic antimicrobial peptides in innate host defenses is convincing from the data of animal model and transgenic animal experiments as well as wildlife or domestic animals, indicating that the peptides protect against inflammatory and immune system after induction by bacterial infection. |
