Defending the attack of pathogens by Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)

The host employs various mechanisms to regulate the microbiota and protect against infections caused by pathogens, one of which is the production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). These AMPs are a diverse group of molecules that combat microbes through various methods, such as disrupting bacterial membranes and sequestering essential nutrients. In the gut, the three main types of host-derived AMPs are defensins (e.g., Alfa-defensins), cathelicidins, and Regenerating islet-derived protein 3 alfa (REG3A), and [Regener…