Antibiotic cryptdin peptides and methods of their use

US5844072A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• The Regents of the University of California · US

Inventors

• Michael E. Selsted · Los Angeles, US
• Andre J. Ouellette · Lynn, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 18, 1994
• Grant date: Dec 1, 1998
• Expiry date: Nov 18, 2014

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2333/4721
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

The present invention provides substantially purified cryptdin peptides having a consensus amino acid sequence: PA1 X.sub.1 -C-X.sub.2 -C-R-X.sub.3 -C-X.sub.4 -E-X.sub.5 -C-X.sub.6 -C-C-X.sub.7 or having a consensus amino acid sequence: PA1 X.sub.1 -L-X.sub.2 -C-Y-C-R-X.sub.3 -C-K-X.sub.4 -E-X.sub.5 -G-T-C-X.sub.6 -C-C-X.sub.7 wherein X.sub.1 to X.sub.7 each independently is 0 to 10 amino acids. The invention also provides cryptdin analogs, which are devoid of one or more amino acids N-terminal to the first cysteine. In addition, the invention provides nucleic acid molecules encoding cryptdin peptides. The invention further provides methods for detecting inflammatory pathologies in a subject and for treating an inflammatory pathology in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition containing a cryptdin peptide.