"DEFB1 is a peptide expressed mainly in epithelia with an antimicrobial function against viruses, Grampositive, Gram-negative bacteria and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It also functions as immunomodulator and as a tumor supressor gene. Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) in this gene have been associated with cancer, allergic and infectious diseases as well as with DEFB1 downregulation (Prado-Montes de Oca, 2010)".