Antimicrobial peptides in domestic animals and their applications in veterinary medicine

• Published in: Peptides (New York, N.Y. : 1980) N.Y. : 1980), 2021-08, Vol.142, p.170576-170576, Article 170576
• Main Authors: Valdez-Miramontes, C.E., De Haro-Acosta, Jeny, Aréchiga-Flores, C.F., Verdiguel-Fernández, L., Rivas-Santiago, B.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Animals, Domestic; Anti-Infective Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial peptide; Antimicrobial Peptides - pharmacology; Domestic animal; Fertility; Immunomodulation; Immunomodulator; Microbiota; Veterinary Medicine
• ISSN: 0196-9781; 1873-5169
• DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170576

•Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of domestic animals have beneficial effects on immune regulation, microbiota, and nutrition.•AMP have an important function in reproductive processes.•AMPs have been proposed in veterinary medicine as vaccine adjuvants, immunomodulators and dietary supplements. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are molecules with a broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. These peptides are widely distributed in insects, amphibians and mammals. Indeed, they are key molecules of the innate immune system with remarkable antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activity. Besides, these peptides have also shown regulatory activity for gut microbiota and have been considered inductors of growth performance. The current review describes the updated findings of antimicrobial peptides in domestic animals, such as bovines, goats, sheep, pigs, horses, canines and felines, analyzing the most relevant aspects of their use as potential therapeutics and their applications in Veterinary medicine.