Amphiphilic peptide compositions and analogues thereof

摘要

A process for inhibiting growth of a target cell comprising administering to a host or to a target cell or virus a biologically active peptide which includes one of the following basic structures; R1-R1-R2-R1-R1-R2-R2-R1-R1-R2-R2-R1-R2-R2; R2-R1-R1-R2-R2-R1-R2-R2-R1-R1-R2-R2-R1-R1; or R1-R2-R1-R1-R2-R2-R1-R1-R2-R2-R1-R2-R2-R1-R1-R2-R2-R1, wherein R1 is a hydrophobic amino acid, and R2 is a basic hydrophilic or neutral hydrophilic amino acid. A preferred peptide is of the structural formula: (SEQ ID NO:3). Substitution and deletion analogues of this peptide can be prepared that have increased biological activity. Such peptides can be employed as pharmaceuticals.