VIRUS DERIVED ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES

摘要

The invention is directed to peptides having antimicrobial activity (antimicrobial peptides). The antimicrobial peptides of the present inventio n are analogs of the Lentivirus Lytic Peptide 1 (LLP1) amino acid sequence. Th e invention is further directed to peptides referred to as the Lytic Base Unit (LBU) peptides derived from the LLP1 analogs, also having antimicrobial activity. In addition, the present invention is also directed to methods of using the peptides in a variety of contexts, including the treatment of prevention of infectious diseases. The antimicrobial LLP1 analog peptides an d the LBU peptides (collectively eLLPs) may be highly active under high salt conditions and in biologic fluids. In addition, the eLLPs are effective when presented either in soluble form, or when attached to a solid surface. Furthermore, the peptides of the present invention are selectively active against a wide variety of bacterial pathogens and exhibit minimal toxicity t o eukaryotic cells in vitro and in vivo.