Antimicrobial Peptides Are

Question

Antimicrobial peptides are
A)antibodies that attack bacteria and viruses.
B)activated by antigen-antibody complexes.
C)produced by both B and T lymphocytes.
D)found on the skin and mucous membranes.
E)all of the above.

Accepted Answer

Antimicrobial peptides are short chains of amino acids that are commonly found on the skin and mucous membranes, where they serve as a defense against pathogenic microorganisms. They can kill bacteria, fungi, and viruses by disrupting their membranes or interfering with their metabolism. Antimicrobial peptides are not antibodies and are not activated by antigen-antibody complexes. They are also not produced by B and T lymphocytes, but rather by a variety of cells, including epithelial cells, leukocytes, and mast cells.