Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Production and Visualization of Bacterial Spheroplasts and Protoplasts to Characterize Antimicrobial Peptide Localization
10:13

Production and Visualization of Bacterial Spheroplasts and Protoplasts to Characterize Antimicrobial Peptide Localization

Published on: August 11, 2018

Histatins: antimicrobial peptides with therapeutic potential

Kevin Kavanagh1, Susan Dowd

  • 1Medical Mycology Unit, Department of Biology, National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology, NUI Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland. kevin.kavanagh@may.ie

The Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
|March 18, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Histatins, antimicrobial peptides in human saliva, show potent antifungal activity by disrupting fungal cell mitochondria. These compounds offer a promising new strategy for treating drug-resistant oral fungal infections.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Microbiology
  • Oral Medicine

Background:

  • Histatins are salivary antimicrobial peptides with known antifungal properties.
  • Conventional antifungal drugs like azoles and polyenes face challenges with drug resistance.
  • Fungal infections, particularly in the oral cavity, require novel therapeutic approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism of action of histatins against fungal pathogens.
  • To evaluate the potential of histatins as therapeutic agents for oral fungal infections.
  • To assess the clinical efficacy and safety of histatin-based preparations.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of histatin interaction with fungal cell membranes and mitochondria.
  • Assessment of ATP depletion, cell cycle disruption, and reactive oxygen species generation.
  • Clinical evaluation of topical histatin preparations and histatin-impregnated denture acrylic.

Main Results:

  • Histatins induce non-lytic ATP loss and cell death by targeting fungal mitochondria.
  • Histatins disrupt the fungal cell cycle and generate reactive oxygen species.
  • Clinical studies show histatin preparations are safe and effective in preventing Candida albicans adherence, reducing plaque, and improving gingivitis.

Conclusions:

  • Histatins possess a unique mode of action distinct from conventional antifungals.
  • Histatins represent a novel class of antimicrobial compounds for treating oral fungal infections.
  • Histatin preparations demonstrate safety and efficacy, offering a promising alternative for managing drug-resistant fungal infections.

More Related Videos

Quantifying the Antifungal Activity of Peptides Against Candida albicans06:45

Quantifying the Antifungal Activity of Peptides Against Candida albicans

Published on: January 13, 2023

Antimicrobial Peptides Produced by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids11:56

Antimicrobial Peptides Produced by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids

Published on: May 4, 2018

Related Concept Videos

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis01:30

Inhibitors of Viral Protein Synthesis

Protein synthesis is indispensable for viral replication, as viruses lack the cellular machinery required for this process and must hijack the host's translational apparatus. In response, host cells deploy a critical innate immune defense involving interferons, specialized cytokines that play a central role in inhibiting viral propagation.Upon viral detection, infected cells release interferons that bind to receptors on adjacent uninfected cells, activating the JAK-STAT signaling pathway and...
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis01:25

Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis

Aminoglycosides constitute a highly potent class of bactericidal antibiotics that exert their antimicrobial effects by targeting the bacterial ribosome, specifically disrupting protein synthesis. These polycationic molecules consist of amino-modified sugars linked via glycosidic bonds to an aminocyclitol core such as 2-deoxystreptamine or streptamine. Their strong positive charges facilitate tight binding to the negatively charged phosphate backbone of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), primarily at the 16S...
Antiprotozoal Agents01:21

Antiprotozoal Agents

Leishmaniasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by several Leishmania species. It affects millions of people each year and remains a major public health problem in endemic regions. First-line treatment relies on pentavalent antimonials, including meglumine antimoniate and sodium stibogluconate. Even so, how these drugs work has not been fully clear, especially their interaction with parasite-specific biochemical pathways. One key target is trypanothione reductase (TR), an enzyme that...