Table 1.

The structure, mechanisms, and functions of lysozyme and α‐defensins.

Lysozyme	Structure and antimicrobial activity	β‐1,4‐N‐acetylmuramoylhydrolase: Glycosidase responsible for enzymatic hydrolysis of peptidoglycans. This causes instability in the cell wall particularly of Gram‐positive bacteria	Ragland & Criss (2017)
		Cationic protein: The cationic structure leads to electrostatic interaction with phospholipids in the bacterial membrane. This results in the formation of pores in the membranes of both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, and subsequent bacterial death	Derde et al (2013), Ragland & Criss (2017)
	Other activities	It also has antiviral, antineoplastic and as antioxidant properties	Sava et al (1989), Croguennec et al (2000), Małaczewska et al (2019)
α‐Defensins	Structure and antimicrobial activity	Mature peptide consisting of six conserved cysteines forming three intramolecular disulfide bonds stabilizing a β‐sheet structure	Selsted & Ouellette (1995)
		The mature peptide is cationic and amphiphilic, leading to electrostatic interaction with phospholipids in the bacterial membrane. This results in the formation of membrane pores in both Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative bacteria, and subsequent bacterial death	Hadjicharalambous et al (2005)
	Other activities	It also has antiviral, antifungal and antiprotozoal activities	Daher et al (1986), Aley et al (1994), Kai‐Larsen et al (2007)