Abstract

It is said that nature is the greatest innovator, yet molecular conservation can be equally powerful. One key requirement for the survival of any host is its ability to defend against infection, predation and competition. Recent discoveries, including the presence of a multidimensional structural signature, have revealed a previously unforeseen structural and functional congruence among host defence effector molecules spanning all kingdoms of life. Antimicrobial peptides, kinocidins, polypeptide venoms and other molecules that were once thought to be distinct in form and function now appear to be members of an ancient family of host defence effectors. These molecules probably descended from archetype predecessors that emerged during the beginning of life on earth. Understanding how nature has sustained these host defence molecules with a potent efficacy in the face of dynamic microbial evolution should provide new opportunities to prevent or treat life-threatening infections.

Author affiliations

1. Michael R. Yeaman and Nannette Y. Yount are at the Division of Infectious Diseases, LAC-Harbour UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California 90509, USA and St. John's Cardiovascular Research Center, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA, Torrance, California 90502, USA.
2. Michael R. Yeaman is also at the Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90024, USA.

Correspondence to: Michael R. Yeaman¹ Email: MRYeaman@ucla.edu

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