Affiliation:
1. Department of Microbiology and Immunology Institute of Biomedicine University of Gothenburg Gothenburg Sweden
2. Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Lubbock Texas USA
Abstract
AbstractThere is considerable evidence showing that highly ordered aggregate structures known as amyloids carry out essential biological roles in species ranging from bacteria to humans. Indeed, many antimicrobial peptides/proteins form amyloids to carry out their host defense functions and many amyloids are antimicrobial. The similarity of host defense amyloids from bacterial biofilms to the mammalian epididymal amyloid matrix implies highly conserved host defense structures/functions. With an emphasis on the epididymal amyloid matrix, here we review the common properties of host defense amyloids including unique traits that would allow them to function as powerful biosensors of the immune system.
Funder
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Subject
Urology,Endocrinology,Reproductive Medicine,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism