NK-lysin peptide compositions and methods for their use as antimicrobial/antiviral agents

Abstract

Natural killer (NK)-lysin peptides from chicken, bovine and human species are used as an antimicrobial or antiviral agent alone or in combination with other agents. A pharmaceutical composition comprising NK-lysin peptides was effective against Rotavirus and various gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria that were tested. Combinations of NK-lysin peptides plus silver nanoparticles or IL-2 were also effective against Salmonella typhimurium. Treatment with the NK-lysin peptides repressed β-lactam-resistance genes (CTX-M-1, CTX-M-8 and CTX-M-9) in bacterial species tested and thus can be used to augment treatment with β-lactams and increase bacterial sensitivity to this important class of antibiotics.

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