The structural basis for defensin-mediated membrane attack

该项目旨在确定被称为防御素的先天防御蛋白如何攻击目标膜，导致细胞破裂和死亡。人们常说，攻击是最好的防御方式，动植物的免疫系统往往会以微生物和其他病原体的细胞膜为目标进行自我防御。该项目将确定防御素活性的精确分子机制，并阐明配体识别和随后的多聚如何导致靶膜裂解。该项目将建立基于小蛋白的抗菌防御系统的基本机制，并定义防御素作用的概念框架，以制定对抗真菌感染的策略。

This project aims to define how the innate defense proteins called defensins attack target membranes to cause cells to burst and die. It is often said that attack is the best form of defense, and the immune systems of plants and animals will often target the cell membranes of microbes and other pathogens to defend themselves. This project will identify the precise molecular mechanism underlying defensin activity, and clarify how ligand recognition and subsequent multimerisation leads to target membrane lysis. The project will establish the fundamental mechanisms regulating antimicrobial defense systems based on small proteins, and define a conceptual framework for the action of defensins to develop strategies to combat fungal infections.