Enhancement of antimicrobial peptide activity by metal ions

A pharmaceutical composition, comprising:

• an antimicrobial effective amount of a peptide selected from the group consisting of tracheal antimicrobial peptide, peptide #11, attacins, azurcidin, bactenecins, bombinin, cathelins, ceratotoxins, cryptdins, levitides, protegrins, ranalexins, sapecins, tachylesins, tachyplesins, thionins, and xenopsins,
• an ion of copper in an amount effective to enhance the antimicrobial activity of said peptide, and
• a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

A method of enhancing the antimicrobial activity of a peptide, comprising administering or applying a peptide selected from the group consisting of tracheal antimicrobial peptide, peptide #11, attacins, azurcidin, bactenecins, bombinin, cathelins, ceratotoxins, cryptdins, levitides, protegrins, ranalexins, sapecins, tachylesins, tachyplesins, thionins, and xenopsins along with an ion of copper.

A method of controlling the growth of a microorganism susceptible to the antimicrobial activity of a peptide selected from the group consisting of tracheal antimicrobial peptide, peptide #11, attacins, azurcidin, bactenecins, bombinin, cathelins, ceratotoxins, cryptdins, levitides, protegrins, ranalexins, sapecins, tachylesins, tachyplesins, thionins, and xenopsins, comprising providing to a locus where said microorganism is present said peptide and an ion of copper.

A method for controlling the growth of a pathogenic microorganism susceptible to treatment with a peptide selected from the group consisting of tracheal antimicrobial peptide, peptide #11, attacins, azurcidin, bactenecins, bombinin, cathelins, ceratotoxins, cryptdins, levitides, protegrins, ranalexins, sapecins, tachylesins, tachyplesins, thionins, and xenopsins, comprising contacting said pathogenic microorganism with an antimicrobial effective amount of said peptide and an ion of copper, wherein said ion of copper is present at a concentration effective in maintaining or enhancing the antimicrobial activity of said peptide.

A method of controlling the growth of a pathogenic microorganism, comprising contacting said pathogenic microorganism with a composition comprising an antimicrobial effective amount of a peptide selected from the group consisting of tracheal antimicrobial peptide, peptide #11, attacins, azurcidin, bactenecins, bombinin, cathelins, ceratotoxins, cryptdins, levitides, protegrins, ranalexins, sapecins, tachylesins, tachyplesins, thionins, and xenopsins, and

• an ion of copper,
• wherein said ion of copper is present at a concentration effective in maintaining or enhancing the antimicrobial activity of said peptide.

A method of treating a human or animal subject suffering from an infection caused by a microorganism susceptible to treatment with a peptide selected from the group consisting of tracheal antimicrobial peptide, peptide #11, attacins, azurcidin, bactenecins, bombinin, cathelins, ceratotoxins, cryptdins, levitides, protegrins, ranalexins, sapecins, tachylesins, tachyplesins, thionins, and xenopsins, comprising administering or applying to said human or animal subject a pharmaceutical composition, comprising:

• an antimicrobial effective amount of said peptide,
• an ion of copper in an amount effective to maintain or enhance the antimicrobial activity of said peptide, and
• a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or diluent.

A method of treating an airway infection due to a microorganism in a patient suffering from cystic fibrosis, comprising administering to said patient an amount of a metal ion effective to maintain or enhance the activity of tracheal antimicrobial peptide such that said tracheal antimicrobial peptide is effective in controlling the growth of said microorganism.

A method of treating an infection due to a microorganism in a patient suffering from ketoacidosis, comprising administering to said patient an amount of a metal ion effective to maintain or enhance the activity of a peptide having antimicrobial activity such that said peptide is effective in controlling the growth of said microorganism causing said infection, wherein said metal ion is selected from the group consisting of an ion of copper, an ion of silver, an ion of gold, an ion of boron, an ion of aluminum, and an ion of manganese.

A kit, comprising:

• a first container containing a peptide selected from the group consisting of tracheal antimicrobial peptide, peptide #11, attacins, azurcidin, bactenecins, bombinin, cathelins, ceratotoxins, cryptdins, levitides, protegrins, ranalexins, sapecins, tachylesins, tachyplesins, thionins, and xenopsins, and
• a second container containing an ion of copper.

A method of treating an infection due to a microorganism in a patient suffering from ketoacidosis, comprising administering to said patient an amount of an ion of copper effective to maintain or enhance the activity of a peptide having antimicrobial activity such that said peptide is effective in controlling the growth of said microorganism causing said infection, and

• wherein said administering is performed orally, nasally, topically, intravaginally, or into the urinary bladder.