Antimicrobial peptides and methods of use thereof

1. An antimicrobial composition comprising an antimicrobial peptide, wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 90% sequence identity to one of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 5, 8, 18, 22, 23 and 25-30.

2. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises a hydrophobic tail region on the N-terminus, C-terminus, or both, and wherein the hydrophobic tail region has a sequence of from 4 to 10 hydrophobic amino acids.

3. The antimicrobial composition of claim 2 , wherein the hydrophobic tail region consists of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 4.

4. The antimicrobial composition of claim 3 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 22 and 23.

5. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from SEQ ID NOs: 8, 18 and 27.

6. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises two amphipathic regions that form a dimer.

7. The antimicrobial composition of claim 6 , wherein the two amphipathic regions have the same amino acid sequence.

8. The antimicrobial composition of claim 6 , wherein the two amphipathic regions have different amino acid sequences.

9. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises an amino acid sequence having at least 95% sequence identity to one of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 5, 8, 18, 22, 23 and 25-30.

10. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 23.

11. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22.

12. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 3, 5, 8, 18, 22, 23 and 25-30.

13. The antimicrobial composition of claim 1 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 27.

14. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antimicrobial composition of claim 1 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

15. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 14 , wherein the composition is formulated for oral administration, parenteral administration, or topical administration.

16. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 15 , wherein the composition is formulated for oral administration and further comprises an enteric coating.

17. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 15 , wherein the composition is formulated for topical delivery in a form selected from the group consisting of: a gel suspension, a cream, microneedle, and infused into a bandage or topical patch.

18. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 14 , further comprising an additional bioactive agent.

19. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 18 , wherein the additional bioactive agent is selected from the group consisting of: an antimicrobial agent, an anti-inflammatory drug, an anti-nausea drug, an anti-pain medication, and combinations thereof.

20. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 14 , wherein the composition is formulated to be coated on the surface of an implantable medical device.

21. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 20 , wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of: surgical instruments and indwelling medical devices.

22. An antimicrobial composition comprising an antimicrobial peptide, wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 21.

23. An antimicrobial composition comprising an antimicrobial peptide, wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOs: 6 and 20.

24. The antimicrobial composition of claim 23 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 20.

25. The antimicrobial composition of claim 23 , wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 6.

26. An antimicrobial composition comprising an antimicrobial peptide, wherein the antimicrobial peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19.

27. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antimicrobial composition of claim 10 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

28. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 27 , wherein the composition is formulated for oral administration, parenteral administration, or topical administration.

29. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 28 , wherein the composition is formulated for topical delivery in a form selected from the group consisting of: a gel suspension, a cream, microneedle, and infused into a bandage or topical patch.

30. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 27 , wherein the composition is formulated to be coated on the surface of an implantable medical device.

31. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 30 , wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of: surgical instruments and indwelling medical devices.

32. A pharmaceutical composition comprising the antimicrobial composition of claim 13 and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

33. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 32 , wherein the composition is formulated for oral administration, parenteral administration, or topical administration.

34. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 33 , wherein the composition is formulated for topical delivery in a form selected from the group consisting of: a gel suspension, a cream, microneedle, and infused into a bandage or topical patch.

35. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 32 , wherein the composition is formulated to be coated on the surface of an implantable medical device.

36. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 35 , wherein the medical device is selected from the group consisting of: surgical instruments and indwelling medical devices.