Molecular cloning and characterization of lingual antimicrobial peptide cDNA of Bubalus bubalis

Antimicrobial peptides form a crucial component of innate immune system, making it a highly effective first line of defense in animals. In the study, lingual antimicrobial peptide cDNA of Bubalus bubalis has been characterized. The characterized cDNA has complete ORF of 195 bases. The signal sequence of buffalo LAP comprised of N-terminal 1–20 amino acids and mature peptide from 23–64 amino acids. The percentage of similarity of buffalo LAP and buffalo EBD at nucleotide and amino acid level was 96.4% and 92.3% respectively. The identity of buffalo LAP with cattle LAP and TAP at nucleotide level was 92.8% and 90.3%. Both at nucleotide and amino acid level buffalo LAP is closer to buffalo EBD followed by cattle LAP and TAP. Phylogenetic tree at nucleotide and amino acid level also showed close relationship of buffalo LAP with buffalo EBD, cattle LAP and TAP. The synthesized LAP fragment had antibacterial activity.