[sndean]

> 1. It sounds like the mechanism for killing cells is very general. Why do histatins not attack somatic cells?

They semi-specifically target a receptor on C. albicans and other pathogens. They're also cationic [1], so they bind anionic lipids in bacteria and mitochondria that aren't found (in large quantities) on the mammalian cell surface.

> 2. Do mouth wounds simply heal faster because the mouth is cleaner?

From that second abstract:

"..histatins were actively internalized by epithelial cells and specifically used the extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) pathway, thereby enhancing epithelial migration."

It's a relatively simple assay: Just grow a lawn of the skin cells, scrape a line down the middle, and see how quickly the line is filled in (with or without exogenous histatin).

So those peptides tend to do both: kill bacteria and lead to wounds healing faster.

[1] http://aps.unmc.edu/AP/database/query_output.php?ID=00505