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: Methods for treating cystic fibrosis in a mammal that include administering to the mammal an effective amount of a histatin, a histatin fragment, or a histatin-related peptide are disclosed.

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: Stabilized ubiquitin-lytic peptide fusion polypeptides and a method of making the same by sub-cloning nucleic acid sequences coding for lytic peptides into a plasmid vector comprising a promoter and ubiquitin polypeptide coding sequence, wherein the ubiquitin polypeptide sequence is linked to the 5′ end of the lytic peptide nucleic acid sequence and is translated as a fusion polypeptide.

Abstract: A method of treating a wound of a mammalian subject in rneed of such treatment, to promote healing thereof, comprising administering to the subject, e.g., to the wound locus, a composition comprising a fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferatingly effective amount of an amphipathic peptide, preferably an amphipathic peptide which is antimicrobially effective at such locus. A method is also disclosed of stimulating the accelerated growth of dermal tissue in a tissue culture containing same, comprising applying to the tissue culture a fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferatingly effective amount of an amphipathic peptide, by which the dermal tissue may be grown to produce skin for skin grafting purposes, utilizing a dermal tissue culture containing dermal tissue material of a skin graft recipient of such skin. Novel amphipathic peptides suitable for use in such methods are disclosed.

Abstract: Stabilized ubiquitin-lytic peptide fusion polypeptides and a method of making the same by sub-cloning nucleic acid sequences coding for lytic peptides into a plasmid vector comprising a promoter and ubiquitin polypeptide coding sequence, wherein the ubiquitin polypeptide sequence is linked to the 5' end of the lytic peptide nucleic acid sequence and is translated as a fusion polypeptide.

Abstract: Stabilized ubiquitin-lytic peptide fusion polypeptides and a method of making the same by sub-cloning nucleic acid sequences coding for lytic peptides into a plasmid vector comprising a promoter and ubiquitin polypeptide coding sequence, wherein the ubiquitin polypeptide sequence is linked to the 5' end of the lytic peptide nucleic acid sequence and is translated as a fusion polypeptide.

Abstract: A method of treating a wound of a mammalian subject in need of such treatment, to promote healing thereof, comprising administering to the subject, e.g., to the wound locus, a composition comprising a fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferatingly effective amount of an amphipathic peptide, preferably an amphipathic peptide which is antimicrobially effective at such locus. A method is also disclosed of stimulating the accelerated growth of dermal tissue in a tissue culture containing same, comprising applying to the tissue culture a fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferatingly effective amount of an amphipathic peptide, by which the dermal tissue may be grown to produce skin for skin grafting purposes, utilizing a dermal tissue culture containing dermal tissue material of a skin graft recipient of such skin. Novel amphipathic peptides suitable for use in such methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A non-neurotoxin, arginine residue-containing non-naturally occurring lytic peptide comprising a sequence of amino acid residues in sufficient number and arrangement to confer lytic activity to the peptide, wherein the guanido groups of the arginine residues and the .alpha.-amino group of the N-terminal amino acid are sufficiently glyoxylated to impart enhanced tryptic, chymotryptic, and aminopeptidase digestion resistance to the peptide. The compositions of the invention are suitable for in vivo administration. A method of-making the same, to impart enhanced tryptic digestion resistance thereto, comprising glyoxylating the guanido groups of the arginine residues and the .alpha.-- amino group of the N-terminal amino acid with glyoxa containing buffer for sufficient time and at sufficient conditions to glyoxylate the side chain and .alpha.-amino groups to sufficient extent to confer enhanced proteolytic digestion resistance to the peptide.

Abstract: Stabilized ubiquitin-lytic peptide fusion polypeptides and a method of making the same by sub-cloning nucleic acid sequences coding for lytic peptides into a plasmid vector comprising a promoter and ubiquitin polypeptide coding sequence, wherein the ubiquitin polypeptide sequence is linked to the 5' end of the lytic peptide nucleic acid sequence and is translated as a fusion polypeptide.