Abstract: Novel microbial peptides called clavaspirins are of the formula (SEQ ID NO:1)X'.sub.1 X.sub.2 B'.sub.3 X.sub.4 X.sub.5 U.sub.6 U.sub.7 X.sub.8 X.sub.9 B.sub.10 X'.sub.11 X.sub.12 U.sub.13 B.sub.14 X.sub.15 X.sub.16 B*.sub.17 B.sub.18 X.sub.19 U.sub.20 X.sub.21 X'.sub.22 X.sub.23 (1)including the salts, esters, amides and acylated forms thereofwherein X is a hydrophobic amino acid residue or modified form thereof;X' is a small or a hydrophobic amino acid residue or a modified form thereof;B is a basic amino acid residue or modified form thereof;B' is basic or a polar/large amino acid residue or modified form thereof;B* is a basic or a hydrophobic amino acid residue or a modified form thereof; andU is a small amino acid residue or modified form thereof.

Abstract: The invention is directed to antimicrobial peptides related to naturally-occurring protegrin peptides, and methods of using the peptides in a variety of contexts, including the treatment or prevention of infections.

Abstract: Peptide-based compounds containing multiple proline residues are useful as preservatives and in preventing, treating, or ameliorating microbial infection, especially Gram-negative bacterial infection in animals and plants, in treating conditions characterized by the presence of LPS. These compounds are of the formula ##STR1## including the N-terminal acylated and/or C-terminal amidated or esterified forms thereofwherein each of A.sub.1, A.sub.5, A.sub.10, A.sub.14 and A.sub.20 is independently Ala, Gly or Ser;each of A.sub.2, A.sub.4, A.sub.7, A.sub.9, A.sub.11, A.sub.12, A.sub.13, A.sub.16, A.sub.17, A.sub.19 and A.sub.22 is independently a hydrophobic amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ile, Leu, Val, Phe and Met;each of A.sub.3 and A.sub.8 is independently a neutral polar amino acid selected from Asn and Gln or is a hydrophobic amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ile, Leu, Val, Phe and Met;each of A.sub.6, A.sub.18 and A.sub.

Abstract: Peptide-based compounds containing four invariant cycteine residues which have been optionally oxidized to contain two intramolecular disulfide bonds, or modified forms where the cysteines are replaced are useful as preservatives and in preventing, treating, or ameliorating viral or microbial infection in animals and plants, and in inactivating endotoxin. These compounds, in one embodiment, are of the formula: ##STR1## and the N-terminal acylated and/or C-terminal amidated or esterified forms thereof, which is either in the optionally -SH stabilized linear or in a cystine-bridged formwherein each of A.sub.1 and A.sub.9 is independently a basic amino acid;each of A.sub.2 and A.sub.3 is independently a small amino acid;each of A.sub.5, A.sub.7, A.sub.12, A.sub.14 and A.sub.16 is independently a hydrophobic amino acid;A.sub.4 is a basic or a small amino acid;A.sub.10 is a basic or a small amino acid or is proline;A.sub.11 is a basic or a hydrophobic amino acid;A.sub.

Abstract: Peptide-based compounds containing multiple proline residues are useful as preservatives and in preventing, treating, or ameliorating microbial infection, especially Gram-negative bacterial infection in animals and plants, in treating conditions characterized by the presence of LPS. These compounds are of the formula ##STR1## including the N-terminal acylated and/or C-terminal amidated or esterified forms thereofwherein each of A.sub.1, A.sub.5, A.sub.10, A.sub.14 and A.sub.20 is independently Ala, Gly or Ser;each of A.sub.2, A.sub.4, A.sub.7, A.sub.9, A.sub.11, A.sub.12, A.sub.13, A.sub.16, A.sub.17, A.sub.19 and A.sub.22 is independently a hydrophobic amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ile, Leu, Val, Phe and Met;each of A.sub.3 and A.sub.8 is independently a neutral polar amino acid selected from Asn and Gln or is a hydrophobic amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ile, Leu, Val, Phe and Met;each of A.sub.6, A.sub.18 and A.sub.

Abstract: Peptide-based compounds containing four invariant cysteine residues which have been optionally oxidized to contain two intramolecular disulfide bonds, or modified forms where the cysteines are replaced are useful as preservatives and in preventing, treating, or ameliorating viral or microbial infection in animals and plants, and in inactivating endotoxin. These compounds, in one embodiment, are of the formula:A.sub.1 -A.sub.2 -A.sub.3 -A.sub.4 -A.sub.5 -C-A.sub.7 -C-A.sub.9 -A.sub.10 -A.sub.11 -A.sub.12 -C-A.sub.14 -C-A.sub.16 -(A.sub.17 -A.sub.18)(1)and the N-terminal acylated and/or C-terminal amidated or esterified forms thereof, either in optionally --SH stabilized linear or in cystine-bridged formwherein A.sub.1 and A.sub.9 are basic amino acids;A.sub.2, A.sub.3 and A.sub.10 are small amino acids;A.sub.5, A.sub.7, A.sub.12, A.sub.14 and A.sub.16 are hydrophobic amino acids; andA.sub.4 is a basic or a small amino acid;A.sub.11 is a hydrophobic amino acid;A.sub.

Abstract: Peptide-based compounds containing four invariant cysteine residues which have been optionally oxidized to contain two intramolecular disulfide bonds, or modified forms where the cysteines are replaced, are useful as preservatives and in preventing, treating, or ameliorating viral or microbial infection in animals and plants, and in inactivating endotoxin. These compounds, in one embodiment, are of the formula:A.sub.1 -A.sub.2 -A.sub.3 -A.sub.4 -A.sub.5 -C-A.sub.7 -C-A.sub.9 -A.sub.10 -A.sub.11 -A.sub.12 -C-A.sub.14 -C-A.sub.16 -(A.sub.17 -A.sub.18)(1)(SEQ ID NO:1)and the N-terminal acylated and/or C-terminal amidated or esterified forms thereof, either in optionally --SH stabilized linear or in cystine-bridged formwherein A.sub.1, A.sub.9, A.sub.10, and A.sub.11 are basic amino acids;A.sub.2 and A.sub.3 are small amino acids;A.sub.5, A.sub.7, A.sub.12, A.sub.14 and A.sub.16 are hydrophobic amino acids; andA.sub.4 is a basic or a small amino acid;A.sub.

Abstract: Peptide-based compounds containing six invariant cysteine residues are useful as preservatives and in preventing, treating, or ameliorating microbial infection in animals and plants. These compounds are of the formulas: ##STR1## wherein each B.sub.i is a basic amino acid and the N-terminal acylated and/or C-terminal amidated or esterified forms thereof, either in optionally --SH stabilized linear or in cystine-bridged form.

Abstract: Peptide-based compounds containing multiple proline residues are useful as preservatives and in preventing, treating, or ameliorating microbial infection, especially Gram-negative bacterial infection in animals and plants, in treating conditions characterized by the presence of LPS. These compounds are of the formula ##STR1## including the N-terminal acylated and/or C-terminal amidated or esterified forms thereofwherein each of A.sub.1, A.sub.5, A.sub.1O, A.sub.14 and A.sub.20 is independently Ala, Gly or Ser;each of A.sub.2, A.sub.4, A.sub.7, A.sub.9, A.sub.11, A.sub.12, A.sub.13, A.sub.16, A.sub.17, A.sub.19 and A.sub.22 is independently a hydrophobic amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ile, Leu, Val, Phe and Met;each of A.sub.3 and A.sub.8 is independently a neutral polar amino acid selected from Asn and Gln or is a hydrophobic amino acid selected from the group consisting of Ile, Leu, Val, Phe and Met;each of A.sub.6, A.sub.18 and A.sub.

Abstract: Peptide-based compounds containing four invariant cysteine residues which have been oxidized to obtain two intramolecular disulfide bonds are useful as preservatives and in preventing, treating, or ameliorating viral or microbial infection in animals and plants. These compounds, in one embodiment, are of the formula:A.sub.1 -A.sub.2 -A.sub.3 -A.sub.4 -A.sub.5 -C-A.sub.7 -C-A.sub.9 -A.sub.10 -A.sub.11 -A.sub.12 -C-A.sub.14 -C-A.sub.16 -(A.sub.17 -A.sub.18)(1) (SEQ ID NO:4)and the N-terminal acylated, C-terminal amidated or esterified and the cystine-bridged forms thereofwherein A.sub.1, A.sub.9, A.sub.10 and A.sub.11 are basic amino acids;A.sub.2 and A.sub.3 are small amino acids;A.sub.5, A.sub.7, A.sub.12, A.sub.14 and A.sub.16 are hydrophobic amino acids; andA.sub.4 is a basic or a small amino acid;A.sub.17 is not present or, if present, is a small amino acid;A.sub.18 is not present or, if present, is a basic amino acid.

Abstract: A method for treating cutaneous and corneal wounds as well as certain microbial-related diseases comprises topically applying a defensin peptide to the affected tissue. The compositions comprise a natural, synthetic, or analog defensin molecule having both a mitogenic activity capable of stimulating cell growth and an antimicrobial activity capable of inhibiting the growth of a wide variety of pathogens. In addition to therapeutic use, the defensins are useful as mitogens in cell and tissue culture media.

Abstract: Novel microbicidal compositions are provided which find use as preservatives, disinfectants, antigens and the like. Particularly, cationic oligopeptides of up to about thirty-five amino acids are provided having amino acid sequences substantially comparable to the amino acid sequences of cationic oligopeptides produced by macrophage. A conserved framework structure is provided.

Abstract: Novel microbicidal compositions are provided which find use as preservatives, disinfectants, antigens and the like. Particularly, cationic oligopeptides of up to about thirty-five amino acids are provided having amino acid sequences substantially comparable to the amino acid sequences of cationic oligopeptides produced by macrophage. A conserved framework structure is provided.The invention described herein was in the course, or under a grant from the United States Public Health Service and the National Institutes of Health.

Abstract: Novel microbicidal compositions are provided which find use as preservatives, disinfectants, antigens and the like. Particularly, cationic oligopeptides of up to about thirty-five amino acids are provided having amino acid sequences substantially comparable to the amino acid sequences of cationic oligopeptides produced by macrophage. A conserved framework structure is provided.