Introduction

As this book. Antibacterial Peptide Protocols, will attest, my enthusiasm for the field of antibacterial peptides is based on a conviction (and I am unashamed to say, prejudice) that these substances are in essence antibiotics produced by the host that then participate in host defense against infectious agents.

Potential and Clinical Use

Because of their capacity to exert antibiotic-like action against pathogenic microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses), there is reason to believe that these agents will soon be used clinically to treat infectious diseases. In fact, in recent years, biotechnology companies have been formed for the sole purpose of developing antibacterial peptides for clinical use.

Importance in Modern Medicine

It should be emphasized that antibacterial peptides will likely play a major role in the treatment of infectious diseases, particularly with the increasing problem of multidrug-resistant microbes and the relative dearth of new antibiotics being provided by pharmaceutical companies.

Research and Methodology

The topic of this volume of Methods in Molecular Biology, the diverse methods used in research on antibacterial peptides, is thus quite timely. As the subject of antibacterial peptides develops into its own discipline (something strongly suggested by the explosion in the number of papers published over the past decade), it is essential that reliable techniques and strategies be made available not only to those of us in the field, but also to the newcomers and researchers in complementary disciplines.