TY - JOUR AU - Seufi, AlaaEddeen M. AU - Hafez, Elsayed E. AU - Galal, Fatma H. PY - 2011 DA - 2011/11/09 TI - Identification, phylogenetic analysis and expression profile of an anionic insect defensin gene, with antibacterial activity, from bacterial-challenged cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis JO - BMC Molecular Biology SP - 47 VL - 12 IS - 1 AB - Defensins are a well known family of cationic antibacterial peptides (AMPs) isolated from fungi, plants, insects, mussels, birds, and various mammals. They are predominantly active against gram (+) bacteria, and a few of them are also active against gram (-) bacteria and fungi. All insect defensins belonging to the invertebrate class have a consensus motif, C-X5-16-C-X3-C-X9-10-C-X4-7-CX1-C. Only seven AMPs have already been found in different lepidopteran species. No report was published on the isolation of defensin from the Egyptian cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis. SN - 1471-2199 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2199-12-47 DO - 10.1186/1471-2199-12-47 ID - Seufi2011 ER -