Role of Antimicrobial Peptides in Host Defense Against Vaccinia Virus (AMP 01)

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder characterized by recurrent viral skin infections. Recent studies have demonstrated that the skin of people with AD my have decreased antimicrobial peptide (AMP) expression. The purpose of this study is to compare small pox virus replication and the number of AMPs and other antiviral molecules in people with AD, as compared to those seen in people with psoriasis or asthma, or healthy individuals.