University of Southern California

Justin B Schaal

Michael E Selsted

Dat Q Tran

Virginia Basso

Dat Tran

Patti Tran

Novel peptide analogs of a θ-defensin have been developed that provide a biphasic effect in treating disseminated fungal disease and/or associated septic shock. These analogs are active at concentrations below those needed to provide a fungicidal effect, and function by initially mobilizing effector cells of the immune system to address the infective organism followed by regulation of the immune system to down regulate the inflammatory response. These novel θ-defensin analogs are protective at concentrations where naturally occurring θ-defensins have no apparent effect, and include a core set of structural and sequence features not found in native θ-defensins.

Compositions and methods for treatment of fungal infections

Peptide analogs of a θ-defensin have been developed that provide a biphasic effect in treating disseminated fungal disease and/or associated septic shock. These analogs are active at concentrations below those needed to provide a fungicidal effect, and function by initially mobilizing effector cells of the immune system to address the infective organism followed by regulation of the immune system to down regulate the inflammatory response. These θ-defensin analogs are protective at concentrations where naturally occurring θ-defensins have no apparent effect, and include a core set of structural and sequence features not found in native θ-defensins.

Novel peptide analogs of a &#x3b8;-defensin have been developed that provide a biphasic effect in treating disseminated fungal disease and/or associated septic shock. These analogs are active at concentrations below those needed to provide a fungicidal effect, and function by initially mobilizing effector cells of the immune system to address the infective organism followed by regulation of the immune system to down regulate the inflammatory response. These novel &#x3b8;-defensin analogs are protective at concentrations where naturally occurring &#x3b8;-defensins have no apparent effect, and include a core set of structural and sequence features not found in native &#x3b8;-defensins.

Novel peptide analogs of a &#x3b8;-defensin have been developed that provide a biphasic effect in treating infection and/or sepsis. These analogs are active at concentrations below those needed to provide a bactericidal or bacteriostatic effect, and function by initially recruiting effector cells of the immune system to address the infective organism followed by regulation of the immune system to down regulate the inflammatory response characteristic of sepsis and septic shock. These novel &#x3b8;-defensin analogs are protective at concentrations where naturally occurring &#x3b8;-defensins have no apparent effect, and include a core set of structural and sequence features not found in native &#x3b8;-defensin.

Growing community of inventors

Orange, CA, United States of America

Justin B Schaal