HAMP and infection: Hepcidin is known to act as an iron regulatory hormone, as well as it exerts a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity against fungal species and clinical relevant bacteria such as Escherichia coli, S. epidermidis, S. aureus, and group B streptococci; however, the role as an antimicrobial peptide remains to be further unraveled for most type of infections (51, 147).