The present invention provides a modified lactoferrin peptide which is cytotoxic, 7 to 25 amino acids in length, with three or more cationic residues and which has one or more extra bulky and lipophilic amino acids as compared to the native lactoferrin sequence, as well as esters, amides, salts and cyclic derivatives thereof as well as methods of preparing such peptides, pharmaceutical compositions containing such peptides and use of the peptides as medicaments, particularly as antibacterials or anti-tumoural agents.
The invention relates to the use of a molecule comprising a backbone of 2 to 35 non-hydrogen atoms in length, having covalently attached thereto at least two bulky and lipoophilic groups and having at least one more cationic than anionic moiety, in the manufacture of a medicament for destabilising microbial cell membranes and the use as a membrane acting antimicrobial agent of a molecule comprising a backbone of 2 to 35 non-hydrogen atoms in length, having covalently attached thereto a super bulky and lipophilic group comprising at least 9 non-hydrogen atoms and having at least two more cationic than anionic moieties and to methods of treatment involving such molecules, in particular peptides including peptide derivatives, and peptidomimetics.
The present invention provides a cytotoxic 7 to 25 mer peptide with three or more cationic residues which has one or more non-genetic bulky and lipophilic amino acids, as well as esters, amides, salts and cyclic derivatives thereof as well as methods of preparing the peptides, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as medicaments, particularly as antibacterions or antitumoural agents. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides the use of said peptides in a method of inducing adaptive immunity against tumour growth or establishment in a subject, as well as the use of other lytic agents in a method of inducing adaptive immunity in a subject.
The invention relates to the use of a molecule comprising a backbone of 2 to 35 non-hydrogen atoms in length, having covalently attached thereto at least two bulky and lipophilic groups and having at least one more cationic than anionic moiety, in the manufacture of a medicament for destabilising microbial cell membranes and the use as a membrane acting antimicrobial agent of a molecule comprising a backbone of 2 to 35 non-hydrogen atoms in length, having covalently attached thereto a super bulky and lipophilic group comprising at least 9 non-hydrogen atoms and having at least two more cationic than anionic moieties and to methods of treatment involving such molecules, in particular peptides including peptide derivatives, and peptidomimetics.
The present invention provides a cytotoxic 7 to 25 mer peptide with three or more cationic residues which has one or more non-genetic bulky and lipophilic amino acids, as well as esters, amides, salts and cyclic derivatives thereof as well as methods of preparing the peptides, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use as medicaments, particularly as antibacterions or antitumoral agents. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides the use of said peptides in a method of inducing adaptive immunity against tumor growth or establishment in a subject, as well as the use of other lytic agents in a method of inducing adaptive immunity in a subject.