Peptide Antibiotics

<p>This reference summarizes the latest research on the structure, function, and design of synthetic and natural peptide antibiotics, describing practical applications of these compounds in food preservation and packaging, and in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases by direct anti-bacterial action and as part of the adaptive immune response.<br><br>Peptide Antibiotics discusses these unique compounds and their many and exciting applications, including: </p><li>the distribution and classification of diverse antimicrobial peptides throughout nature <br> </li><li>the role in host defense of mucosal surface peptide antibiotics such as defensins and cathepsins <br> </li><li>the biosynthesis of lanthionine-containing antibiotics including nisin, epidermin, and mersacidin <br> </li><li>the genetic basis determining the production of bacterial peptide antibiotics <br> </li><li>the potential commercial use of magainin, nisin, and lacticin peptides as anti-infective agents <br> </li><li>the use of nisin as a commercial food preservative <br>With contributions from 19 world-renowned experts in the field, Peptide Antibiotics is an indispensable source of information for pharmaceutical scientists, medicinal and organic chemists and biochemists, microbiologists, infectious disease specialists, molecular biologists, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines.</li> <p>Introduction to the Peptide Antibiotics<br>Harry W. Taber<br><br>Sources of Antimicrobial Peptides<br><br>Chemistry and Applications of Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides<br>David Andreu and Luis Rivas<br><br>Lanthionine-Containing Bacterial Peptides<br>Ulrike Pag and Hans-Georg Sahl <br><br>Unmodified Peptide-Bacteriocins (Class II) Produced by Lactic Acid Bacteria<br>Ingolf F. Nes, Helge Holo, Gunnar Fimland, Håvard Hildeng Hauge, and Jon Nissen-Meyer<br><br>Insect Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides<br>Charles Hetru, Jules A. Hoffmann, and Robert E. W. Hancock<br><br>Mammalian Antimicrobial Peptides<br>Charles L. Bevins and Gill Diamond<br><br>Potential Applications of Peptides<br><br>Exploitation of Lantibiotic Peptides for Food and Medical Uses<br>Máire P. Ryan, Colin Hill, and R. Paul Ross<br><br>Amphibian Antimicrobial Peptides<br>Michael A. Zasloff<br><br>Index</p>