Defensins are a major family of host defense peptides expressed predominantly in
neutrophils and epithelial cells. Their broad antimicrobial activities and multifaceted …

The bladder is continuously protected by passive defences such as a mucus layer,
antimicrobial peptides and secretory immunoglobulins; however, these defences are …

Defensins are an effector component of the innate immune system with broad antimicrobial
activity. Humans express two types of defensins, α-and β-defensins, which have antiviral …

Defensins have been long recognized as natural antimicrobial peptides, but they also
possess diverse and versatile immune functions. Defensins can both induce inflammation …

α, β, and θ defensins are effectors of the innate immune system with potent antibacterial,
antiviral, and antifungal activity. Defensins have direct antiviral activity in cell culture, with …

BACKGROUND Reproductive tract infection is an important factor leading to male and
female infertility. Among female infertility factors, microbial and viral infections are the main …

Despite its proximity to the fecal flora, the urinary tract is considered sterile. The precise
mechanisms by which the urinary tract maintains sterility are not well understood. Host …

The discovery of microbial communities in the urinary tract (the urobiome) has fundamentally
altered the previous doctrine regarding urine sterility and associated urinary disorders …

The glycocalyx surrounds every eukaryotic cell and is a complex mesh of proteins and
carbohydrates. It consists of proteoglycans with glycosaminoglycan side chains, which are …

In the intestine, the mucosal immune system plays essential roles in maintaining
homeostasis between the host and microorganisms, and protecting the host from pathogenic …