LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE-BINDING AND NEUTRALIZING PEPTIDES

摘要

The present invention relates to substances which bind with high affinity to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]), and which are useful for the prevention or treatment of, for example, Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial sepsis, and for the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections as well as for neutralizing effects associated with heparin. The substances are LPS-binding peptides comprising an LPS-binding domain. In addition, the invention relates to DNA sequences encoding said peptides, recombinant microorganisms containing said DNA, pharmaceutical compositions containing the peptides of the invention, and diagnostic kits. The invention also encompasses methods for the detection and removal of bacterial LPS from solutions.