Host defense peptides, also known as antimicrobial peptides, are key elements of innate host defense. One host defense peptide with well-characterized antimicrobial activity is the human cathelicidin, LL-37. LL-37 has been shown to be upregulated at sites of infection and inflammation and is regarded as one of the primary innate defense molecules against bacterial and viral infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman rhinoviruses (HRVs) are the most common cause of viral respiratory tract infections, and are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised individuals and patients with pre-existing pulmonary conditions. The therapeutic options available are extremely limited and therefore novel therapeutics for HRV infections are of significant interest. Cathelicidins have been shown to have potent antiviral activity against a range of pathogens and are known to be key immunomodulatory mediators during infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCationic Host Defense Peptides (HDP, also known as antimicrobial peptides) are crucial components of the innate immune system and possess broad-spectrum antibacterial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory activities. They can contribute to the rapid clearance of biological agents through direct killing of the organisms, inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediators such as lipopolysaccharide, and by modulating the inflammatory response to infection. Category A biological agents and materials, as classified by the United States National Institutes for Health, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the US Department of Homeland Security, carry the most severe threat in terms of human health, transmissibility, and preparedness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe potential toxicity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has been compared to pathogenic fibres such as asbestos. It is important to test this hypothesis to ascertain safe methods for CNT production, handling and disposal. In this study aspects reported to contribute to CNT toxicity were assessed: length, aspect ratio, iron content and crystallinity; with responses compared to industrially produced MWCNTs and toxicologically relevant materials such as asbestos.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFToxicol Appl Pharmacol
January 2013
Zinc oxide (ZnO) particle induced cytotoxicity was dependent on size, charge and solubility, factors which at sublethal concentrations may influence the activation of the human monocytic cell line THP1. ZnO nanoparticles (NP; average diameter 70nm) were more toxic than the bulk form (<44μm mesh) and a positive charge enhanced cytotoxicity of the NP despite their relatively high dissolution. A positive charge of the particles has been shown in other studies to have an influence on cell viability.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis study investigated the uptake, kinetics and cellular distribution of different surface coated quantum dots (QDs) before relating this to their toxicity. J774.A1 cells were treated with organic, COOH and NH2 (PEG) surface coated QDs (40 nM).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFC-reactive protein (CRP) is the prototypic human acute-phase protein and is found at increased levels in the blood during episodes of inflammation. CRP was generally thought to be produced only by hepatocytes; however, several studies have shown extrahepatic synthesis of CRP. A previous study showed that PM10 and ultrafine carbon black (ufCB) were able to induce CRP expression in A549 cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMigration of L3 larvae of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis through the lungs of the rat, during primary infection, was studied at 24 h, 72 h and 8 days. At 24 h p.i.
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