Recombinant Human Beta Defensin-2 (BD-2) - 5 μg

Defensins are essential cationic peptides that serve as a critical component of the innate immune system, exhibiting broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacteria, fungi, viruses, and enveloped pathogens. Among defensins, human beta-defensins (hBDs) notably include four key members: hBD-1, hBD-2, hBD-3, and hBD-4, each characterized by a conserved six-cysteine motif forming three intramolecular disulfide bonds essential for their β-sheet structure and function. Unlike alpha-defensins, beta-defensins are produced as precursor proteins and are activated through proteolytic cleavage of a signal sequence, with hBD-1 also requiring removal of a propeptide region. Beta-defensins not only exert direct antimicrobial effects, such as disrupting microbial membranes and inhibiting cell wall biosynthesis, but also perform immunomodulatory roles by recruiting and chemoattracting immature dendritic cells and memory T cells, thus bridging innate and adaptive immunity. Additionally, human, rabbit, and guinea pig beta-defensins, including hBD-2, stimulate mast cell activation and degranulation, leading to the release of histamine and prostaglandin D2, which contribute to inflammatory and immune responses. Their unique antimicrobial potency varies among family members, with hBD-3 displaying salt-resistant and robust activity against gram-positive bacteria, fungi, and viruses, also maintaining efficacy under physiological conditions. Importantly, the immunomodulatory functions of beta-defensins include both activation and suppression of inflammatory responses, making them multifunctional host defense peptides vital in infection control and immune regulation. This protein's rich profile of antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities underscores its significance for research in innate immunity, infectious disease, and therapeutic development targeting microbial infections and inflammatory conditions.