Antimicrobial secretions work through various mechanisms to protect the host. They can disrupt microbial membranes, inhibit cell wall synthesis, and interfere with microbial enzyme activity. For example, lysozyme, found in tears and saliva, breaks down the peptidoglycan layer of bacterial cell walls, leading to cell lysis. Antimicrobial peptides, such as defensins, insert themselves into microbial membranes, forming pores that disrupt cellular integrity.
