Retrocyclins: antiviral and antimicrobial peptides
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of California
InventorsRobert I. Lehrer, Alan J. Waring, Alexander M. Cole, Teresa B. Hong
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Abstract
Retrocyclin peptides are small antimicrobial agents with potent activity against bacteria and viruses. The peptides are nonhemolytic, and exhibit minimal in vitro cytotoxicity. A pharmaceutical composition comprising retrocyclin as an active agent is administered therapeutically to a patient suffering from a bacterial and/or viral infection, or to an individual facing exposure to a bacterial and/or viral infection, especially one caused by the HIV-1 retrovirus or other sexually-transmitted pathogens.
Claims19
An isolated retrocyclin peptide.
A cyclic polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence:
- X1 X2 X3 X4 X5 X6 X7 X8 X9 X10 X11 X12 X13 X14 X15 X16 X17 X18
- wherein X1 and X18 are linked through a peptide bond,
- disulfide crosslinks are formed between at least one of:
- X3 and X16;
- X5 and X14, and X7 and X12 with the proviso that when such a crosslink is present, the crosslinked amino acids are both cysteines;
- at least about three of amino acids X1 to X18 are arginine or lysine;
- X2, X5, X11, X15 are aliphatic amino acids;
- and
- X1, X10 and X17 are glycine or alanine.
An isolated nucleic acid encoding a primate retrocyclin or a peptide set forth in SEQ ID NO:
- 1-10.
A method for preventing retroviral infection in a cell, the method comprising:
- administering an effective dose of a circular minidefensin or retrocyclin to said cell. :
A method for killing microbial organisms, the method comprising:
- administering an effective dose of retrocyclin to said microbial organisms.
A method for administering retrocyclin as a therapeutic agent to a patient with an established microbial or viral infection.
A method for administering retrocyclin as a prophylactic agent to prevent a microbial or viral infection in a patient at risk of developing such infection.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.