Novel peptides with antimicrobial properties, with emphasis on antifungal action

Abstract

Four patent applications from different companies or academic institutions describing cationic peptides and related analogues which have claims for antimicrobic applications have recently been published. Three of the four have examples or claims that emphasise use in antifungal applications. The four share similarities in that all are based on naturally-occurring classes of peptides, which have been extensively modified for improvements in spectrum of activity, potency, half-life, and to enable claims for composition of matter. The classes include protegrins, tachyplesins, bacterial permeability-increasing protein, tenecin, and indolicidin, and all share the property of binding to endotoxin and increasing the permeability of microbial membranes. The patents describe the synthesis of the various analogues claimed, many of which have minimised structures relative to the natural products, provide examples of their antimicrobial activity and, in some cases, describe the structural conformations and how these relate to activity. The patents describe diverse applications for these peptides used either alone or in combination with other therapeutics.