Resumo

PRADO-MONTES DE OCA, Ernesto. Human defensin: prophilaxis and therapy against HIV?. Gac. Méd. Méx [online]. 2006, vol.142, n.5, pp. 431-433. ISSN 0016-3813.

Human defensins are endogenous antimicrobial peptides with prophylactic and therapeutic potential against HIV. The ability of defensins to bind the HIV envelope could be exploited to design topic agents that block viral entry into exposed mucosa. Additionally, their capacity to inhibit viral replication, complement system activation, dendritic and memory T cells chemoattraction, together with peptide engineering could bring about new and better antiretroviral drugs. Clinical trials could be demonstrated the efficacy of defensins against HIV in clinical practice.

Palavras-chave : HIV; human defensins; antimicrobial peptides; therapy; prophylaxis.