Nematode antimicrobial peptides

Abstract

There is currently insufficient data to determine the full spectrum of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that nematodes produce. Defensins, nemapores, cecropins, and caenacins/neuropeptide-like proteins have been identified, but none of these is produced universally by all nematode species, and no single species produces all AMP types. Therefore, it seems unlikely that there is a core set of AMPs that can be considered “archetypal” for nematodes. Additional information is also needed from underrepresented Ecdysozoan and Lophotrochozoan taxa to clarify the evolution of AMPs. To avoid generalizations that may later prove inaccurate, caution should be used when choosing “representative” sequences or taxa, and analyses should be interpreted conservatively when limited information is available.