Defensins

Defensins comprise a family of small, cationic peptides prevalent in neutrophil granulocytes of humans, rabbits, guinea pigs and rats as well as in rabbit lung macrophages. These peptides show sequence homology and contain 6 conserved disulfide-linked cysteines. In vitro, all defensins display a range of prominent antimicrobial activities against bacteria, fungi, and certain enveloped viruses. In addition, human and rabbit defensins exert potent cytotoxicity in vitro against various mammalian tumor cells. The defensins act on their targets by permeabilizing the plasma membranes.
For our monoclonal antibody to defensins 1-3 please see T-1034.

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