Antimicrobial Peptides


Book Description

This book presents an overview of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), their mechanisms of antimicrobial action, other activities, and various problems that must still be overcome regarding their clinical application. Divided into four major parts, the book begins with a general overview of AMPs (Part I), and subsequently discusses the various mechanisms of antimicrobial action and methods for researching them (Part 2). It then addresses a range of activities other than antimicrobial action, such as cell penetration, antisepsis, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities (Part 3), and explores the prospects of clinical application from various standpoints such as the selective toxicity, design, and discovery of AMPs (Part 4). A huge number of AMPs have been discovered in plants, insects, and vertebrates including humans, and constitute host defense systems against invading pathogenic microorganisms. Consequently, many attempts have been made to utilize AMPs as antibiotics. AMPs could help to solve the urgent problem of drug-resistant bacteria, and are also promising with regard to sepsis and cancer therapy. Gathering a wealth of information, this book will be a bible for all those seeking to develop antibiotics, anti-sepsis, or anticancer agents based on AMPs.




Marine Bioactive Peptides: Structure, Function, and Therapeutic Potential


Book Description

This Special Issue Book, “Marine Bioactive Peptides: Structure, Function, and Therapeutic Potential" includes up-to-date information regarding bioactive peptides isolated from marine organisms. Marine peptides have been found in various phyla, and their numbers have grown in recent years. These peptides are diverse in structure and possess broad-spectrum activities that have great potential for medical applications. Various marine peptides are evolutionary ancient molecular factors of innate immunity that play a key role in host defense. A plethora of biological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, anticancer, anticoagulant, endotoxin-binding, immune-modulating, etc., make marine peptides an attractive molecular basis for drug design. This Special Issue Book presents new results in the isolation, structural elucidation, functional characterization, and therapeutic potential evaluation of peptides found in marine organisms. Chemical synthesis and biotechnological production of marine peptides and their mimetics is also a focus of this Special Issue Book.




NanoFormulation


Book Description

NanoFormulation covers advances in research, development and applications of innovative formulation technologies where nanomaterials play an essential role.




Antimicrobial Peptides


Book Description

In this text, the small team of expert authors presents the field in a comprehensive and accessible manner that is well suited for students and junior researchers. The result is a highly readable and systematically structured introduction to antimicrobial peptides, their structure, biological function and mode of action. The authors point the way towards a rational design of this potentially highly effective new class of clinical antibiotics on the brink of industrial application. They do this by discussing their design principles, target membranes and structure-activity relationships. The final part of the book describes recent successes in the application of peptides as anticancer agents.




Biologically Active Peptides


Book Description

Biologically Active Peptides: From Basic Science to Applications for Human Health stands as a comprehensive resource on bioactive peptide science and applications. With contributions from more than thirty global experts, topics discussed include bioactive peptide science, structure-activity relationships, best practices for their study and production, and their applications. In the interdisciplinary field of bioactive peptides, this book bridges the gap between basic peptide chemistry and human physiology, while reviewing recent advances in peptide analysis and characterization. Methods and technology-driven chapters offer step-by-step guidance in peptide preparation from different source materials, bioactivity assays, analysis and identification of bioactive peptides, encoding bioactive peptides. Later, applications across disease areas and medical specialties are examined in-depth, including the use of bioactive peptides in treating obesity, diabetes, osteoporosis, mental health disorders, food allergies, and joint health, among other disorders, as well as bioactive peptides for sensory enhancement, sports and clinical nutrition, lowering cholesterol, improving cardiovascular health, and driving advances in biotechnology. - Discusses the latest advances in bioactive peptide chemistry, functionality and analysis - Offers step-by-step instruction in applying new technologies for peptide extraction, protection, production and encoding, as well as employing bioactive peptide sequencing and bioactivity assays in new research - Effectively links basic peptide chemistry, human biology and disease - Features chapter contributions from international experts across disciplines and applications




Annual Update in Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine 2012


Book Description

The Yearbook compiles the most recent developments in experimental and clinical research and practice in one comprehensive reference book. The chapters are written by well recognized experts in the field of intensive care and emergency medicine. It is addressed to everyone involved in internal medicine, anesthesia, surgery, pediatrics, intensive care and emergency medicine.




Treating Infectious Diseases in a Microbial World


Book Description

Humans coexist with millions of harmless microorganisms, but emerging diseases, resistance to antibiotics, and the threat of bioterrorism are forcing scientists to look for new ways to confront the microbes that do pose a danger. This report identifies innovative approaches to the development of antimicrobial drugs and vaccines based on a greater understanding of how the human immune system interacts with both good and bad microbes. The report concludes that the development of a single superdrug to fight all infectious agents is unrealistic.




Prokaryotic Antimicrobial Peptides


Book Description

The book will provide an overview of the advancement of fundamental knowledge and applications of antimicrobial peptides in biomedical, agricultural, veterinary, food, and cosmetic products. Antimicrobial peptides stand as potentially great alternatives to current antibiotics, and most research in this newly-created area has been published in journals and other periodicals. It is the editors’ opinion that it is timely to sum up the most important achievements in the field and provide the scientific community in a reference book. The goals of this project include illustrating the achievements made so far, debating the state of the art, and drawing new perspectives.




Plant Cyclotides


Book Description

Advances in Botanical Research publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciences. Currently in its 76th volume, the series features several reviews by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology and ecology. - Publishes in-depth and up-to-date reviews on a wide range of topics in plant sciences - Contains commentary by recognized experts on all aspects of plant genetics, biochemistry, cell biology, molecular biology, physiology, and ecology - This volume features reviews of the fast moving field of plant cyclotides