Abstract: Aminosterol compounds are described that are useful as inhibitors of the sodium/proton exchanger (NHE). Methods of using such aminosterols compounds are also disclosed, including those employing compounds that are inhibitors of a spectrum of NHEs as well as those using compounds that are inhibitors of only one specific NHE. Advantageous screening techniques and assays for evaluating a compound's therapeutic activity are also disclosed.

Abstract: Aminosterol compounds are described that are useful as inhibitors of the sodium/proton exchanger (NHE). Methods of using such aminosterols compounds are also disclosed, including those employing compounds that are inhibitors of a spectrum of NHEs as well as those using compounds that are inhibitors of only one specific NHE. Advantageous screening techniques and assays for evaluating a compound's therapeutic activity are also disclosed.

Abstract: Biologically active analogues of magainin peptides wherein each amino acid residue of the peptide is a D-amino acid residue or a glycine residue. Examples of such peptides wherein each amino acid residue is a D-amino acid residue or a glycine residue include deletion and substitution analogues of magainin peptides. Such peptides have increased resistance to proteolytic enzymes while retaining biological activity.

Abstract: A method of treating a viral infection includes administering an effective amount of a compound having the following structure: ##STR1## or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. This compound treats the viral infection by suppressing the growth of a viral target cell. As one specific example, this compound may be used to treat HIV infection.

Abstract: A new family of linear antimicrobial peptide from hagfish intestine is described. This invention relates to proteins with antimicrobial properties isolated from hagfish intestine and their corresponding chemical sequences.

Abstract: A method of treating a bacterial or fungal infection in a patient by administering an effective amount of a compound of Formula (III): ##STR1## wherein, the substituents are as defined in the specification.

Abstract: A method of inhibiting angiogenesis in a patient includes administering to the patient an effective amount of squalamine or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of squalamine. Alternatively, a compound according to the following Formula (III) (or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof) can be administered: ##STR1## wherein Z.sub.5 is .alpha.-H or .beta.-H; each of the substituents Z.sub.7 is selected from the group of --H, --OH, --SH, --NH.sub.2, --F, --(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)-alkyl, and --(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)-alkoxy; and one of the substituents Z.sub.12 is --H and the other is --H or --OH. X' is a polyamine side chain of the formula --X.sub.1 --(CH.sub.2).sub.p --X.sub.2 --(CH.sub.2).sub.q --N(R.sup.II)(R.sup.III), wherein one of X.sub.1 and X.sub.2 is --N(R.sup.IV) and the other is selected from the group of --N(R.sup.V), --O, --S, and --CH.sub.2. R.sup.IV and R.sup.V are each --H or --(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3)-alkyl, p and q are each an integer of from 0 to 5 (but both are not 0). R.sup.II and R.sup.

Abstract: An N-terminal substituted peptide or protein having the formula: ##STR1## X is a biologically active amphiphilic ion channel-forming peptide or protein. T is a lipophilic moiety, and preferably, T is: ##STR2## wherein R is a hydrocarbon (alkyl or aromatic or alkylaromatic) having at least 2 and no more than 10 carbon atoms. T is preferably an octanoyl group. W is T or hydrogen. The N-terminal substituted peptides and proteins have improved biological activity against target cells, viruses, and virally-infected cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inducible antimicrobial peptide designated lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP) which has antibacterial and antifungal activity and which can be obtained from mammalian epithelium. The prepro- and the pro- precursors of LAP are also provided. The present invention also relates to cDNA encoding LAP, the prepro- precursor or the pro-lingual precursor. In addition, methods of treating microbial infection of the epithelia are provided. Such infections can be treated by contacting the epithelia with an antimicrobially effective amount of a purified mammalian epithelial LAP or by administering a component which cause endogenous production or up-regulation of LAP.

Abstract: Compounds which have one of the following structural formulae: ##STR1## AA is an amino acid residue or an amino acid chain of two or more amino acid residues, excluding the N-terminal and the C-terminal from said amino acid residue or amino acid chain of two or more amino acid residues;R.sub.1 is hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 8 carbon atoms;R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of(i) a substituted or unsubstituted hydrocarbon having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, and ##STR2## R.sub.4 is an aliphatic hydrocarbon having 1 to 4 carbon atoms. R.sub.4 may be substituted or unsubstituted.R.sub.3 is selected from the group consisting of(i) hydrogen; ##STR3## wherein R.sub.5 is hydrogen or a nitro group; and ##STR4## wherein each of R.sub.6, R.sub.7, and R.sub.8 is hydrogen or methyl. The above compounds are useful as pharmaceuticals for inhibiting the growth of target cells, viruses, or virally-infected cells.

Abstract: An N-terminal substituted peptide or protein having the formula: ##STR1## X is a biologically active amphiphilic ion channel-forming peptide or protein. T is a lipophilic moiety, and preferably, T is: ##STR2## wherein R is a hydrocarbon (alkyl or aromatic or alkylaromatic) having at least 2 and no more than 10 carbon atoms. T is preferably an octanoyl group. W is T or hydrogen. The N-terminal substituted peptides and proteins have improved biological activity against target cells, viruses, and vitally-infected cells.

Abstract: Compounds having a broad range of antimicrobial activity generally have a structure including asteroid nucleus with a cationic, preferably polyamine, side chain (X) and an anionic side chain (Y). The invention is also directed to compounds of the Formula III: ##STR1## preferably where the steroid ring nucleus is saturated; the steroid ring substituent Z.sub.5 is .alpha.-H; one Z.sub.7 is .beta.-H and the other is .alpha.-H or .alpha.-OH; both substituents Z.sub.12 are hydrogen; X' is a polyamine side chain of the formula --NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.p --NH--(CH.sub.2).sub.q --N(R.sup.II)(R.sup.III) where p and q are each independently 3 or 4, and R.sup.II and R.sup.III are each independently hydrogen or methyl; R' is methyl; and Y' is (C.sub.1 -C.sub.10)-alkyl substituted with a group such as --CO.sub.2 H or --SO.sub.3 H.

Abstract: A process for treating a gynecological malignancy in a host which comprises administering to the host at least one biologically active amphiphilic peptide or protein. The peptide or protein may be administered intralesionally, intravenously, or intraperitoneally, whereby the peptide or protein may inhibit, prevent, or destroy the growth of the gynecological malignancy, such as an ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, or cervical cancer.

Abstract: Novel biologically active amphiphilic peptides and/or analogues or derivatives are used as a pharmaceutical. Such peptides have antibiotic and/or anti-viral and/or anti-tumor and/or anti-parasitic and/or anti-spermicidal activity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the recombinant production of amphiphilic peptides with biologically and therapeutically significant activities. In one embodiment, this invention relates to recombinantly producing an amphiphilic peptide by providing a protease-deficient microbial host transformed with an expression vector containing DNA that encodes the amphiphilic peptide under the control of a regulatory sequence operable in the microbial host and expressing the amphiphilic peptide in the transformed microbial host. In another embodiment, this invention relates to providing an E. coli protease-deficient K-12 cell transformed with a vector that expresses a cleavable fusion protein comprising at least part of a carbohydrate binding protein and the amphiphilic peptide in the cell, expressing the fusion protein in the cell, and cleaving the fusion protein to obtain the amphiphilic peptide substantially free of carbohydrate binding protein residues.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an inducible antimicrobial peptide designated lingual antimicrobial peptide (LAP) which has antibacterial and antifungal activity and which can be obtained from mammalian epithelium. The prepro- and the pro- precursors of LAP are also provided. The present invention also relates to cDNA encoding LAP, the prepro- precursor or the pro-lingual precursor. In addition, methods of treating microbial infection of the epithelia are provided. Such infections can be treated by contacting the epithelia with an antimicrobially effective amount of a purified mammalian epithelial LAP or by administering a component which cause endogenous production or up-regulation of LAP.

Abstract: Biologically active amphiphilic peptides including one of the following basic structures: I. R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 ; II. R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 ; III. R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.3 ; IV. R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.4 ; V. R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.3 ; or VI. R.sub.1 --R.sub. 1 --R.sub.3 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1.R.sub.1 is a hydrophobic amino acid and R.sub.

Abstract: A biologically active amphiphilic peptide which in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, includes one of the following basic structures X.sub.1 through X.sub.7, wherein:X.sub.1 is --[R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.3 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 ]--.sub.nX.sub.2 is --[R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.3 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 ]--.sub.n ;X.sub.3 is --[R.sub.2 --R.sub.3 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 ]--.sub.n ;X.sub.4 is --[R.sub.3 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 ]--.sub.n ;X.sub.5 is --[R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.3 ]--.sub.n ;X.sub.6 is --[R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.3 --R.sub.1 ]--.sub.n ; andX.sub.7 is --[R.sub.2 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.2 --R.sub.3 --R.sub.1 --R.sub.2 ]--.sub.n ;wherein R.sub.1 is a basic hydrophilic amino acid, R.sub.2 is a hydrophobic amino acid, R.sub.3 is a neutral hydrophilic, basic hydrophilic or hydrophobic amino acid and n is from 2 to 5.

Abstract: Novel biologically active amphiphilic peptides having from 21 to 26 amino acid residues, and which may be employed as for inhibiting the growth of target cells, viruses and virally-infected cells.

Abstract: A process for treating a wound in a host which comprises administering to the host having a wound at least one biologically active amphiphilic peptide. The peptide is an ion channel-forming peptide and is administered in an amount effective for treating a wound in a host.