Histatin 3 is a 32 amino acid histidine-rich peptide found in human saliva. Histatins function as antimicrobial peptides and are important components of the innate immune system. Histatin 3 has broad spectrum antimicrobial action including activity against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, fungi including Candida albicans and against the human protozoan parasite Leishania. Histatin 3 is post-translationally cleaved to form Histatin 5 and Histatin 8
