Antimicrobial peptides immunomodulatory properties

Despite the variety of different sources, sequences and structures, all cationic antimicrobial peptides share some common features small size (12-50 amino acids), positive net charge (+2 to +9), amphiphilic (>30% hydrophobic amino acids) and antimicrobial and/or immunomodulatory activity. Some cationic antimicrobial peptides also show antiviral (14) and/or anticancer activity (15) as well as wound healing properties (16). More than 1000... 

The functional properties of milk proteins in foods have recently been expertly treated by Holt and Roginski (2001). These authors described the antihypersensitive, opioid, immunomodulatory, and calcium-binding milk peptides, the antiviral properties of various milk components, and the antimicrobial activity of lactoperoxidase, lactoferrin, lactoferricins, casein peptides, and peptides from a-lactalbumin. 

Many food proteins were found to possess biological activities beyond basic nutritional values. The peptides generated from certain food proteins may possess strong biological activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, and opioid properties (Bennett et al., 2005 Ferreira et al., 2007 FitzGerald et al., 2004 Gauthier et al., 2006 Gobbetti et al., 2004 Yamamoto et al., 2003). 

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