Chemically-modified peptides, compositions, and methods of production and use

1. An antimicrobial peptide represented by Formula I:

wherein n=2 and [(X) 2 ] is Arg-Trp; and

wherein R 1 is selected from the group consisting of C 1 -C 9 alkyl; and C 3 -C 6 cycloalkyl; and

wherein the antimicrobial peptide inhibits the growth of a microbe selected from the group consisting of bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae, protozoa, multicellular parasites and viruses.

2. The antimicrobial peptide of claim 1 wherein said peptide is incorporated into a polymer.

3. The antimicrobial peptide of claim 2 wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of a polysaccharide, a glycol polymer, a polyester, a polyurethane, a polyacrylate, a polyacrylonitrile, a polyamide, a polyolefin, a polystyrene, a vinyl polymer, a polypropylene, silk, a biopolymer, and mixtures thereof.

4. A substrate coated with the antimicrobial of claim 1 .

5. The substrate of claim 4 , wherein the substrate is selected from a group consisting of personal care products, health care products, household products, food preparation surfaces, food packaging surfaces, medical devices, wound dressings, surgical staples, membranes, shunts, surgical gloves, tissue patches, prosthetic devices, wound drainage tubes, blood collection and transfer devices, tracheotomy devices, intraocular lenses, laboratory devices, textile products and painted surfaces.

6. The antimicrobial peptide of claim 1 , further comprising a carrier selected from the group consisting of a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, and industrially acceptable carrier, a household product, and a personal care composition.

7. The antimicrobial peptide of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide terminates the growth of the mircrobe.

8. The antimicrobial peptide of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide is administered topically.