BIOLOGICALLY ACTIVE AMPHIPHILIC PEPTIDES AND METHOD OF INHIBITING GROWTH OF TARGET CELLS, VIRUS OR VIRALLY-INFECTED CELL

摘要

A biologically active amphiphilic peptide which in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, includes one of the following basic structures X1 through X7, wherein: X1 is -[R1-R2-R2-R3-R1-R2-R2]-n; X2 is -[R2-R2-R3-R1-R2-R2-R1]-n; X3 is -[R2-R3-R1-R2-R2-R1-R2]-n; X4 is -[R3-R1-R2-R2-R1-R2-R2]-n; X5 is-[R1-R2-R2-R1-R2-R2-R3]-n; X6 is -[R2-R2-R1-R2-R2-R3-R1]-n; and X7 is-[R2-R1-R2-R2-R3-R1-R2]-n; wherein R1 is a basic hydrophilic amino acid, R2 is a hydrophobic amino acid, R3 is a neutral hydrophilic, basic hydrophilic or hydrophobic amino acid and n is from 2 to 5. The peptide compositions are used to inhibit growth of a target cell, virus or virally-infected cell.