| abstract |
The invention relates to amphiphilic peptides and analogs thereof. The specification defines the molecules in three ways and discloses that antimicrobial peptides which comprise a sequence selected from the group comprising: +-++--++--+--++, +-++--++---+-+++, ++-+++-++-+++--, ++-+++-++-++++-++-, ++-+++-++--++--++-, --++--++-++--++-++, ++++-+++--+--++, ++-+++++++-++-++--, wherein + indicates a hydrophobic amino acid residue and - indicates a hydrophilic amino acid residue have improved antimicrobial properties. Specific sequences of active peptides are given. The specification also discloses two general equations which define the rule by whicc peptides falling within the scope of the invention are identified. |