Lysozymes: Sources, Functions & Role in Disease

Lysozymes are widely distributed in living organisms, and play an important role in self-defence by destroying the cell walls of pathogenic bacteria upon invasion. In this book, the authors present current research in the study of the sources, functions and role in disease of lysozymes. Topics include the adsorption behaviours of lysozyme adsorbed onto moderately hydrophobic surfaces; functional analysis using ESI-MS and NMR spectroscopy in the lysozyme superfamily; functions of lysozymes and identification by MALDI-MS; dissecting lysozyme by single-molecule techniques; the antimicrobial activity and allergenicity of hen egg white lysozymes; human lysozyme amyloid and protein folding; purifying lysozyme from egg whites; and growing hen egg-white lysozyme crystals for neutron experiments.