ANTIMICROBIAL AND ANTICANCER PEPTIDES & CONJUGATES AND COMPOSITIONS, METHODS, ARTICLES & KITS RELATING THERETO
Peptides and conjugates are described herein, including peptides having antimicrobial and/or anticancer properties, as are compositions, articles, and kits comprising such peptides and conjugates, and methods for using the peptides and conjugates.
1 . A peptide comprising:
(a) the amino acid sequence set forth in Formula (I) (SEQ ID NO:1):
X aa1 X aa2 X aa3 X aa4 X aa5 X aa6 X aa7 X aa8 X aa9 X aa10 X aa11
wherein independently of each other:
X aa1 is Lys or Arg,
X aa2 is Lys or Arg,
X aa3 is Phe, Ala, or Trp,
X aa4 is Lys or Arg,
X aa5 is Lys or Arg,
X aa6 is Phe or Trp,
X aa7 is Phe or Trp,
X aa8 is Lys or Arg,
X aa9 is Lys or Arg,
X aa10 is Leu, Phe, or Trp, and
X aa11 is Lys or Arg; or
(b) the amino acid sequence set forth in Formula (I) (SEQ ID NO:1) with one substitution or insertion;
with the proviso that the amino acid sequence is not KRFKKFFKKLK (SEQ ID NO:2), KRAKKFFKKPK (SEQ ID NO:3), KRAKKFFKKLK (SEQ ID NO:4), or RRFRRFFRRLR (SEQ ID NO: 10).
2 . The peptide of claim 1 , wherein:
X aa3 is Phe,
X aa6 is Phe,
X aa7 is Phe, and
X aa10 is Leu.
3 . The peptide of claim 2 , wherein X aa1 is Arg.
4 . The peptide of claim 2 , wherein X aa2 is Lys.
5 . The peptide of claim 2 , wherein X aa4 is Lys.
6 . The peptide of claim 2 , wherein X aa5 is Lys.
7 . The peptide of claim 2 , wherein X aa8 is Lys.
8 . The peptide of claim 2 , wherein X aa9 is Lys.
9 . The peptide of claim 2 , wherein X aa11 is Lys.
10 . The peptide of claim 2 , wherein:
X aa1 is Arg,
X aa2 is Lys,
X aa4 is Lys,
X aa5 is Lys,
X aa8 is Lys,
X aa9 is Lys, and
X aa11 is Lys.
11 . The peptide of claim 10 , wherein the peptide comprises (a) the amino acid sequence set forth in Formula (I) (SEQ ID NO:1).
12 . The peptide of claim 1 , wherein:
X aa1 is Lys,
X aa2 is Arg,
X aa4 is Lys,
X aa5 is Lys,
X aa8 is Lys,
X aa9 is Lys, and
X aa11 is Lys.
13 . The peptide of claim 12 , wherein X aa3 is Phe.
14 . The peptide of claim 12 , wherein X aa6 is Phe.
15 . The peptide of claim 12 , wherein X aa7 is Phe.
16 . The peptide of claim 12 , wherein X aa10 is Leu.
17 . The peptide of claim 12 , wherein:
X aa3 is Phe,
X aa6 is Phe,
X aa7 is Phe, and
X aa10 is Leu.
18 . The peptide of claim 17 , wherein the peptide comprises (a) the amino acid sequence set forth in Formula (I) (SEQ ID NO:1).
19 . A method for preventing, reducing or inhibiting growth of a bacteria or fungi on a surface or in a fluid, the method comprising contacting the surface or the fluid with a composition comprising the peptide of claim 1 , thereby preventing, reducing or inhibiting growth of the bacteria or fungi on the surface or in the fluid.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the surface is on a prosthetic or an implant.