Roles of D-amino acids on the bioactivity of host defense peptides

Abstract

Host defense peptides (HDPs) are positively-charged and amphipathic components of the innate immune system that have demonstrated great potential to become the next generation of broad spectrum therapeutic agents effective against a vast array of pathogens and tumor. As such, many approaches have been taken to improve the therapeutic efficacy of HDPs. Amongst these methods, the incorporation of D-amino acids (D-AA) is an approach that has demonstrated consistent success in improving HDPs. Although, virtually all HDP review articles briefly mentioned about the role of D-AA, however it is rather surprising that no systematic review specifically dedicated to this topic exists, given the impact that D-AA incorporation has on HDPs. In this review, we aim to fill that void with a systematic discussion of the impact of D-AA on HDPs.