| abstract |
Microbicidal peptides are provided which represent bioactive domains, demonstrating antimicrobial activity against at least one microbial pathogen, of the amino acid sequences of naturally occurring defensins or bactenecins. The microbicidal peptide may also be an analog having at least 50 % identity with the bioactive domain, but further incorporates substitutions with one or more natural, or uncommon, amino acids or chemical moieties for improving structural and/or functional properties of the peptide. Also provided are methods of using the microbicidal peptides in formulations for antimicrobial therapy, or for incorporation onto or into surfaces which come into contact with microorganisms. |