Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of short polypeptides usually associated with the host organisms innate immune system . AMPs have been identified in a wide range of host organisms, including plants, amphibians, fish, and humans . AMPs usually consist of 30-100 amino acids, and are most often cationic. In addition to a net positive charge, AMPs often are amphipathic, containing both hydrophobic and hydrophilic domains. This property allows for increased interaction with and insertion into negatively charged cell walls and membranes of microbes . Several modes of action have been suggested for AMPs, and while the ‘carpet mechanism’ is the most supported theory, it is likely that AMPs act on microorganisms via a variety of routes .
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