Piggybacking on nature: exploring the multifaceted world of porcine β-defensins

Porcine β-defensins (pBDs) are cationic peptides that are classically associated with the innate immune system. These molecules yield both antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties, as evidenced by various in vitro and animal trials. Researchers have revealed that enhancing pBD expression can be achieved through dietary components and gene editing techniques in pigs and porcine cell models. This state-of-the-art review aims to encapsulate the pivotal findings and progress made in the field of pBD over recent decades, with a specific emphasis on the biological role of pBD in infection control and its usage in clinical trials, thereby offering a new landscape of opportunities for research aimed at identifying prophylactic and therapeutic alternatives for both swine medicine and translational purposes.