BIOLOGICAL ACTIVITY RELATED TO STRUCTURE-ACTIVITY OF MASTOPARAN-LIKE PEPTIDES FROM POLISTES DOMINULUS WASP VENOM.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are natural components of the innate immune system of almost all living organisms. Although AMPs have short amino acid sequences, usually less than 50 aa residues, they can perform various biological activities, acting against bacteria, protozoa, fungi, viruses, and even cancer cells. Wasp venoms contain a wide range of molecules with biological activity, including several AMPs, like the Mastoparan family, that may be useful for developing new therapeutics.