cDNA cloning and functional characterisation of four antimicrobial peptides from Paa spinosa.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small peptides found in many organisms defending themselves against pathogens. AMPs form the first line of host defence against pathogenic infections and are key components of the innate immune system of amphibians. In the current study, cDNAs of precursors of four novel antimicrobial peptides in the skin of Paa spinosa were cloned and sequenced using the 3'-RACE technique.