A major contribution to the genome variability among individuals comes from deletions and
duplications—collectively termed copy number variations (CNVs)—which alter the diploid …

Access to effective affordable contraception is critical for individual and public health. A wide
range of hormonal contraceptives (HCs), which differ in composition, concentration of the …

NK cells play a key role in immune response against HIV infection. These cells can destroy
infected cells and contribute to adequate and strong adaptive immune responses, by acting …

There is a pressing need to develop new antiviral treatments; of the 60 drugs currently
available, half are aimed at HIV-1 and the remainder target only a further six viruses. This …

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are integral components of the host innate immune system
and functional throughout the plant and animal kingdoms. AMPs are short cationic …

β-defensins are small cationic antimicrobial peptides secreted by diverse cell types
including colonic epithelial cells. Human β-defensins form an essential component of the …

In the context of HIV sexual transmission at the genital mucosa, initial interactions between
the virus and the mucosal immunity determine the outcome of the exposure. Hence, these …

ABSTRACT hBD comprise a family of antimicrobial peptides that plays a role in bridging the
innate and adaptive immune responses to infection. The expression of hBD-2 increases …

The description of highly exposed individuals who remain seronegative (HESN) despite
repeated exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 has heightened interest in …

Defensins are antimicrobial peptides important to innate host defense. In addition to their
direct antimicrobial effect, defensins modulate immune responses. Increasing evidence …