Abstract: Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic, saprophytic fungus that infects maize and other fatty acid-rich food and feed crops and produces toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites known as aflatoxins. In vitro studies showed a five-fold increase in antifungal activity of AGM182 (vs. tachyplesin1) against A. flavus. Transgenic maize plants expressing AGM182 under maize Ubiquitin-1 promoter were produced through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. PCR products confirmed integration of the AGM182 gene, while RT-PCR of maize RNA confirmed the presence of AGM182 transcripts. Maize kernel screening assay using a highly aflatoxigenic A. flavus strain (AF70) showed up to 72% reduction in fungal growth in the transgenic AGM182 seeds compared to isogenic negative control seeds.

Abstract: Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic, saprophytic fungus that infects maize and other fatty acid-rich food and feed crops and produces toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites known as aflatoxins. In vitro studies showed a five-fold increase in antifungal activity of AGM182 (vs. tachyplesin1) against A. flavus. Transgenic maize plants expressing AGM182 under maize Ubiquitin-1 promoter were produced through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. PCR products confirmed integration of the AGM182 gene, while RT-PCR of maize RNA confirmed the presence of AGM182 transcripts. Maize kernel screening assay using a highly aflatoxigenic A. flavus strain (AF70) showed up to 72% reduction in fungal growth in the transgenic AGM182 seeds compared to isogenic negative control seeds.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides novel peptides that having immunomodulatory activities in vitro and in vivo. The peptides can include a particular striapathic region of alternating hydrophilic and hydrophobic modules that can adopt an amphipathic conformation under physiological conditions. This disclosure provides peptides that can specifically bind to key functional regions on one or more signaling proteins, particularly pro-inflammatory cytokines, macrophage inhibition proteins, and histone regulation proteins. This disclosure includes peptides that are sufficiently stable in the circulation to allow for intravenous administration. Pharmaceutical compositions including the subject peptides are also provided. The subject peptides find use in methods of modulating macrophage activity. In some cases, the peptide is a CD206-binding agent. Also provided are methods of treating a subject for a condition associated with chronic inflammation using the peptides and compositions of this disclosure.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to peptides having antimicrobial activity. In certain aspects, the invention relates to peptides having potent antimicrobial activity, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and/or the ability to kill otherwise antibiotic-resistant microbes, or microbes protected by biofilms.

Abstract: Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic, saprophytic fungus that infects maize and other fatty acid-rich food and feed crops and produces toxic and carcinogenic secondary metabolites known as aflatoxins. In vitro studies showed a five-fold increase in antifungal activity of AGM182 (vs. tachyplesin1) against A. flavus. Transgenic maize plants expressing AGM182 under maize Ubiquitin-1 promoter were produced through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. PCR products confirmed integration of the AGM182 gene, while RT-PCR of maize RNA confirmed the presence of AGM182 transcripts. Maize kernel screening assay using a highly aflatoxigenic A. flavus strain (AF70) showed up to 72% reduction in fungal growth in the transgenic AGM182 seeds compared to isogenic negative control seeds.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to peptides having antimicrobial activity. In certain aspects, the invention relates to peptides having potent antimicrobial activity, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, and/or the ability to kill otherwise antibiotic-resistant microbes, or microbes protected by biofilms.

Abstract: Methods for treating a subject for pancreatic cancer via administration of small anti-inflammatory peptides are disclosed. The peptides may be administered in conjunction with another therapeutic agent, such as a chemotherapeutic agent, or therapeutic regimen. In some cases, the anti-inflammatory peptide that finds use in the subject methods has the amino acid sequence Lys-Phe-Arg-Lys-Ala-Phe-Lys-Arg-Phe-Phe (SEQ ID NO:1) or a multimer, derivative, or variant thereof.

Abstract: Methods for treating pancreatic cancer via administration of small anti-inflammatory peptides. The peptides may be administered in conjunction with another therapeutic agent or therapeutic regimen.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to peptides having anti-inflammatory activity, compositions containing one or more of the peptides, and use of the peptides to treat conditions associated with excessive inflammation in animals, particularly humans and other mammals.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to peptides having anti-inflammatory activity, compositions containing one or more of the peptides, and use of the peptides to treat conditions associated with excessive inflammation in animals, particularly humans and other mammals.

Abstract: Amphipathic lytic peptides are ideally suited to use in a ligand/cytotoxin combination to specifically inhibit cells that are driven by or are dependent upon a specific ligand interaction; for example, to induce sterility or long-term contraception, or to attack tumor cells, or to selectively lyse virally-infected cells, or to attack lymphocytes responsible for autoimmune diseases. The peptides act directly on cell membranes, and need not be internalized. Administering a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (or a GnRH agonist) and a membrane-active lytic peptide produces long-term contraception or sterilization in animals in vivo. Administering in vivo a combination of a ligand and a membrane-active lytic peptide kills cells with a receptor for the ligand. The compounds are relatively small, and are not antigenic. Lysis of gonadotropes has been observed to be very rapid (on the order of ten minutes.) Lysis of tumor cells is rapid.

Abstract: Amphipathic lytic peptides are ideally suited to use in a ligand/cytotoxin combination to specifically inhibit cells that are driven by or are dependent upon a specific ligand interaction; for example, to induce sterility or long-term contraception, or to attack tumor cells, or to selectively lyse virally-infected cells, or to attack lymphocytes responsible for autoimmune diseases. The peptides act directly on cell membranes, and need not be internalized. Administering a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (or a GnRH agonist) and a membrane-active lytic peptide produces long-term contraception or sterilization in animals in vivo. Administering in vivo a combination of a ligand and a membrane-active lytic peptide kills cells with a receptor for the ligand. The compounds are relatively small, and are not antigenic. Lysis of gonadotropes has been observed to be very rapid (on the order of ten minutes.) Lysis of tumor cells is rapid.

Abstract: Amphipathic lytic peptides are ideally suited to use in a ligand/cytotoxin combination to specifically inhibit cells that are driven by or are dependent upon a specific ligand interaction; for example, to induce sterility or long-term contraception, or to attack tumor cells, or to selectively lyse virally-infected cells, or to attack lymphocytes responsible for autoimmune diseases. The peptides act directly on cell membranes, and need not be internalized. Administering a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (or a GnRH agonist) and a membrane-active lytic peptide produces long-term contraception or sterilization in animals in vivo. Administering in vivo a combination of a ligand and a membrane-active lytic peptide kills cells with a receptor for the ligand. The compounds are relatively small, and are not antigenic. Lysis of gonadotropes has been observed to be very rapid (on the order of ten minutes.) Lysis of tumor cells is rapid.

Abstract: Amphipathic lytic peptides are ideally suited to use in a ligand/cytotoxin combination to specifically inhibit cells that are driven by or are dependent upon a specific ligand interaction; for example, to induce sterility or long-term contraception, or to attack tumor cells, or to selectively lyse virally-infected cells, or to attack lymphocytes responsible for autoimmune diseases. The peptides act directly on cell membranes, and need not be internalized. Administering a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (or a GnRH agonist) and a membrane-active lytic peptide produces long-term contraception or sterilization in animals in vivo. Administering in vivo a combination of a ligand and a membrane-active lytic peptide kills cells with a receptor for the ligand. The compounds are relatively small, and are not antigenic. Lysis of gonadotropes has been observed to be very rapid (on the order of ten minutes.) Lysis of tumor cells is rapid.

Abstract: Amphipathic lytic peptides are ideally suited to use in a ligand/cytotoxin combination to induce sterility or long-term contraception in mammals. The peptides act directly on cell membranes, and need not be internalized. Administering a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (or a GnRH agonist) and a membrane-active lytic peptide produces long-term contraception or sterilization in mammals in vivo. The compounds are relatively small, and are not antigenic. Lysis of gonadotropes has been observed to be very rapid (on the order of ten minutes.) The two components—the ligand and the lytic peptide—may optionally be administered as a fusion peptide, or they may be administered separately, with the ligand administered slightly before the lytic peptide, to activate cells with receptors for the ligand, and thereby make those cells susceptible to lysis by the lytic peptide.

Abstract: Amphipathic lytic peptides are ideally suited to use in a ligand/cytotoxin combination to specifically inhibit cells that are driven by or are dependent upon a specific ligand interaction; for example, to induce sterility or long-term contraception, or to attack tumor cells, or to selectively lyse virally-infected cells, or to attack lymphocytes responsible for autoimmune diseases. The peptides act directly on cell membranes, and need not be internalized. Administering a combination of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) (or a GnRH agonist) and a membrane-active lytic peptide produces long-term contraception or sterilization in animals in vivo. Administering in vivo a combination of a ligand and a membrane-active lytic peptide kills cells with a receptor for the ligand. The compounds are relatively small, and are not antigenic. Lysis of gonadotropes has been observed to be very rapid (on the order of ten minutes.) Lysis of tumor cells is rapid.

Abstract: Non-naturally occurring lytic peptides which contain a phenylalanine residue and one or more alanine, valine and lysine residues, and optionally contain chemically masked cysteine or serine residues possess an amphipathic structure which allows them to promote cell lysis in certain pathologic organisms, and particularly in prokaryotes. Peptides having a beta-pleated sheet secondary structure and lacking cysteine residues form one embodiment of these lytic peptides.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating immunodeficiency virus infection in an infected animal comprising administering an effective amount of a lytic peptide.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods for treating immunodeficiency virus infection in an infected animal comprising administering an effective amount of a lytic peptide

Abstract: Inhibition of eucaryotic pathogens and neoplasms and stimulation of lymphocytes and fibroblasts with lytic peptides such as cecropins and sarcotoxins. Eucaryotic cells are contacted with cecropin or sarcotoxin, or a synergistic combination of cecropins or sarcotoxin with lysozyme, in an amount effective to lyse or inhibit the cells. Target cells include eucaryotic microorganisms such as protozoa, e.g. T. cruzi and P. falciparum, mammalian lymphomas and leukemias, and cells infected with intracellular pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and protozoa. Also disclosed is a method for stimulating proliferation of lymphocytes and fibroblasts by contacting such cells with an effective amount of cecropin or sarcotoxin. The methods may be in vitro or in vivo.