Antimicrobial Peptides: Identification of two Beta-Defensins in a Teleost Fish, the European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2021

Authors

Barroso, C (Author) Other; Carvalho, P (Author) Other; goncalves, j (Author) ICBAS; Rodrigues, P (Author) ICBAS; Neves, JV (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Pharmaceuticals

Vol. 14

Final page: 566

ISSN: 1424-8247

Publisher: MDPI

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00V-46A

DOI: 10.3390/ph14060566

Abstract (EN): Beta-defensins consist in a group of cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), widely found throughout vertebrate species, including teleost fish, with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. However, although the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is one of the most commercially important farmed fish species in the Mediterranean area, the characterization of its beta-defensins and its potential applications are still missing. In this study, we characterized two members of the beta-defensin family in this species. Phylogenetic and synteny analysis places sea bass peptides in the beta-defensin subfamilies 1 and 2, sharing similar features with the other members, including the six cysteines and the tertiary structure, that consists in three antiparallel beta-sheets, with beta-defensin 1 presenting an extra alpha-helix at the N-terminal. Further studies are necessary to uncover the functions of sea bass beta-defensins, particularly their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties, in order to develop novel prophylactic or therapeutic compounds to be used in aquaculture production.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 16