Cationic peptides and use of such peptides for inhibiting exotoxin production
Cationic peptides and use of such peptides to inhibit bacterial exotoxin production without substantially inhibiting bacterial growth are described.
1. An isolated peptide wherein said peptide is from 10 to 50 amino acids in length, and wherein the percentage of positively charged amino acids above the number of negatively charged amino acids is 15% or higher, and wherein the peptide comprises an amino acid as set forth in SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO:6.
2. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein said peptide is from 18 to 30 amino acids in length.
3. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein the percentage of positively charged amino acids above the number of negatively charged amino acids is 18% or higher.
4. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein the percentage of positively charged amino acids above the number of negatively charged amino acids is 25% or higher.
5. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein the percentage of positively charged amino acids above the number of negatively charged amino acids is 50% or higher.
6. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein the percentage of positively charged amino acids above the number of negatively charged amino acids is 70% or higher.
7. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein said positively charged amino acids comprise one or more of lysine, a lysine analog, arginine, an arginine analog, histidine, or a histidine analog.
8. The peptide of claim 1 , wherein said peptide consists of the amino acid sequence SKPKKKKYKPHKKKSHKSAKKK (SEQ ID NO: 5) or SKPKKKTYKPHKDLSHGSAKKK (SEQ ID NO: 6).
9. A composition comprising one or more peptides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein each peptide is a peptide of claim 1 .
10. The composition of claim 9 , wherein said composition is formulated for subcutaneous administration.
11. The composition of claim 9 , wherein said composition is formulated for intramuscular administration.
12. The composition of claim 9 , wherein said composition is formulated for oral administration.
13. The composition of claim 9 , wherein said composition is formulated for topical administration.
14. The composition of claim 9 , wherein said composition is formulated for vaginal administration.
15. A composition comprising a medical or hygienic device and the peptide of claim 1 .
16. The composition of claim 15 , wherein all or part of the device is impregnated, or all or part of the surface of the device is coated, with the one or more peptides.
17. The composition of claim 15 , wherein said device is a vaginal tampon.
18. The composition of claim 15 , wherein said device is a surgical suture, a surgical bandage, a surgical dressing, or an osmotic pump.
19. The composition of claim 15 , wherein said device is an ostomy device.