Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are multifunctional components of the innate systems of both
insect and mammalian hosts of the pathogenic trypanosomatids Leishmania and
Trypanosoma species. Structurally diverse AMPs from a wide range of organisms have in
vitro activity against these parasites acting mainly to disrupt surface-membranes. In some
cases AMPs also localize intracellularly to affect calcium levels, mitochondrial function and
induce autophagy, necrosis and apoptosis. In this review we discuss the work done in the …