Cationic Host Defence Peptides:Potential as Antiviral Therapeutics

There is a pressing need to develop new antiviral treatments; of the 60 drugs currently available, half are aimed at HIV-1 and the remainder target only a further six viruses. This demand has led to the emergence of possible peptide therapies, with 15 currently in clinical trials. Advancements in understanding the antiviral potential of naturally occurring host defence peptides highlights the potential of a whole new class of molecules to be considered as antiviral therapeutics. Cationic host defence peptides, such as defensins and cathelicidins, are important components of innate immunity with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory capabilities. In recent years they have also been shown to be natural, broad-spectrum antivirals against both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, including HIV-1, influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus and herpes simplex virus. Here we review the antiviral properties of several families of these host peptides and their potential to inform the design of novel therapeutics

Strong transparency required for carbon credit mechanisms

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordThe credibility of carbon offset mechanisms is threatened by many issues related to their true effectiveness. We advocate that these issues cannot be effectively addressed without a dramatic improvement in transparency across the entire value chain of carbon offsetting, a crucial step for achieving a reduction in carbon emissions.Natural Environment Research Council (NERC

Strong transparency required for carbon credit mechanisms

The credibility of carbon offset mechanisms is threatened by many issues related to their true effectiveness. We advocate that these issues cannot be effectively addressed without a dramatic improvement in transparency across the entire value chain of carbon offsetting, a crucial step for achieving a reduction in carbon emissions