Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

119
Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to...
119
Fungal Phylum Microsporidia01:28

Fungal Phylum Microsporidia

782
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
782
Overview of Fungi01:29

Overview of Fungi

2.4K
Fungi are a diverse group of eukaryotes more closely related to animals than other eukaryotes. Fungal cell walls comprise chitin, a polysaccharide that provides structural strength, and glucans, which contribute to flexibility and integrity. Other polysaccharides, such as mannans and galactosans, may supplement or replace chitin in some fungi. These adaptations, along with their preference for acidic environments and tolerance for high osmotic pressure, enable fungi to thrive in various...
2.4K
Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

10.6K
Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
10.6K
Fungal Phylum Ascomycota01:28

Fungal Phylum Ascomycota

2.4K
Phylum Ascomycota, a major division within the subkingdom Dikarya, comprises a diverse range of fungal species, including both unicellular yeasts and filamentous molds such as Aspergillus and Penicillium. These fungi thrive in a variety of habitats, from aquatic ecosystems to terrestrial environments, playing crucial ecological and economic roles.Morphology and ReproductionThe defining characteristic of Ascomycetes, commonly referred to as sac fungi, is the ascus—a sac-like structure that...
2.4K
Defense Mechanism Against Infection01:26

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

9.6K
Natural flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are natural barriers of the body against infectious agents regardless of previous exposure. Normal floras of the human body refer to the microbial population that colonizes the skin and mucous membranes.
In addition, many body organ systems have unique defenses against infection. The skin is an intact, multilayered surface preventing invasion by microorganisms unless impaired. Mucous membranes lining the mouth, nose, and eyelids are barriers...
9.6K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Dengue Virus Capsid Protein Interaction With Nucleic Acids.

BioFactors (Oxford, England)·2026
Same author

Dynamics of an RNase H-Responsive Tetrahedral DNA Nanostructure for Efficient Intracellular microRNA Inhibition.

Bioconjugate chemistry·2026
Same author

A multiresolution weather dataset for the Southwestern South Atlantic (2017-2018).

Scientific data·2026
Same author

Gas-depleted planet formation occurred in the four-planet system around the red dwarf LHS 1903.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026
Same author

A genomic toolkit for surveillance and elimination of the principal malaria vectors in Southeast Asia.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025
Same author

Psychological aspects of grazing in adolescents: Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Rep(eat)-Q in community and clinical samples.

Journal of eating disorders·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

Live-cell Imaging of Fungal Cells to Investigate Modes of Entry and Subcellular Localization of Antifungal Plant Defensins
08:39

Live-cell Imaging of Fungal Cells to Investigate Modes of Entry and Subcellular Localization of Antifungal Plant Defensins

Published on: December 24, 2017

6.6K

Defensins: antifungal lessons from eukaryotes.

Patrícia M Silva1, Sónia Gonçalves1, Nuno C Santos1

  • 1Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon, Portugal.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|April 2, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Antimicrobial peptides called defensins show promise as antifungal agents. These natural compounds offer a new strategy against drug-resistant fungi, acting on fungal cell membranes.

Keywords:
antifungalantimicrobial peptidesdefensinshost defense peptidesresistance

More Related Videos

Quantifying the Antifungal Activity of Peptides Against Candida albicans
06:45

Quantifying the Antifungal Activity of Peptides Against Candida albicans

Published on: January 13, 2023

2.8K
Creating and Applying a Reference to Facilitate the Discussion and Classification of Proteins in a Diverse Group
07:49

Creating and Applying a Reference to Facilitate the Discussion and Classification of Proteins in a Diverse Group

Published on: August 16, 2017

6.8K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 1, 2026

Live-cell Imaging of Fungal Cells to Investigate Modes of Entry and Subcellular Localization of Antifungal Plant Defensins
08:39

Live-cell Imaging of Fungal Cells to Investigate Modes of Entry and Subcellular Localization of Antifungal Plant Defensins

Published on: December 24, 2017

6.6K
Quantifying the Antifungal Activity of Peptides Against Candida albicans
06:45

Quantifying the Antifungal Activity of Peptides Against Candida albicans

Published on: January 13, 2023

2.8K
Creating and Applying a Reference to Facilitate the Discussion and Classification of Proteins in a Diverse Group
07:49

Creating and Applying a Reference to Facilitate the Discussion and Classification of Proteins in a Diverse Group

Published on: August 16, 2017

6.8K

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Immunology
  • Mycology

Background:

  • Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), particularly defensins, are crucial in host defense against pathogens.
  • Fungal resistance to conventional antifungal drugs is a growing global health concern.
  • Defensins exhibit broad distribution across eukaryotic kingdoms and possess inherent antifungal properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on eukaryotic defensins with antifungal activity.
  • To explore the mechanisms of action and fungal targets of these defensins.
  • To summarize recent findings on the structure, activity, and cytotoxicity of antifungal defensins.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of scientific publications on defensins and antifungal activity.
  • Analysis of studies detailing the molecular targets and mechanisms of action.
  • Compilation of data on structure-activity relationships and cytotoxicity assessments.

Main Results:

  • Defensins demonstrate significant antifungal effects by targeting fungal cell membranes.
  • Their multi-faceted action makes it difficult for fungi to develop resistance.
  • Recent research highlights diverse structures and activities among antifungal defensins.

Conclusions:

  • Eukaryotic defensins represent a promising alternative to current antifungal therapies.
  • Further research into defensin structure, activity, and safety is warranted for therapeutic development.
  • Defensins hold potential as novel therapeutic agents or drug leads against fungal infections.