Platelets have traditionally been viewed as fragmentary mediators of coagulation. However,
recent molecular and cellular evidence suggests that they have multiple roles in host …

Candida albicans infections range from superficial to systemic and are one of the leading
causes of fungus-associated nosocomial infections. The innate immune responses during …

During the past two decades, invasive fungal infections have emerged as a major threat to
immunocompromised hosts. Patients with neoplastic diseases are at significant risk for such …

Platelets are anucleate blood cells, long known to be critically involved in hemostasis and
thrombosis. In addition to their role in blood clots, increasing evidence reveals significant …

Biofilm infections are one of the modern medical world's greatest challenges. Probably, all
non‐obligate intracellular bacteria and fungi can establish biofilms. In addition, there are …

Antibacterial proteins are components of the innate immune system found in many
organisms and produced by a variety of cell types. Human blood platelets contain a number …

Platelets exhibit archetypal structures and functions enabling their roles as multifunctional
host defense cells. Beyond roles in hemostasis and wound repair, platelets sense and …

Over the last years, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been the focus of intense research
toward the finding of a viable alternative to current antifungal drugs. Defensins are one of the …

Platelet microbicidal proteins (PMPs) are hypothesized to exert microbicidal effects via
cytoplasmic membrane disruption. Transmission electron microscopy demonstrated a …

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening infective disease with increasing incidence
worldwide. From early on, in the antibiotic era, it was recognized that high-dose and long …