AUTHOR=Fasina Yewande O. , Obanla Temitayo , Dosu George , Muzquiz Sierra 

TITLE=Significance of Endogenous Antimicrobial Peptides on the Health of Food Animals

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.585266

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2021.585266

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p>Acquired resistance to in-feed antibiotic growth promoters continues to be an imperative problem in the livestock industries, thereby necessitating continuous pursuit for alternatives. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a critical part of the host's innate immune system and have been documented to have immunomodulatory activity. Increasing research evidence suggests that in contrast to antibiotics, AMPs exert broad-spectrum antibacterial activity in a manner that reduces bacterial acquisition of resistance genes. This review summarizes current knowledge on the protective effects of endogenous (natural) AMPs in the gastrointestinal tract of food animals. Factors limiting the efficacy of these AMPs were also discussed and mitigating strategies were proposed.</p>