Stellenbosch University

Marina Rautenbach

Lubertus Klumperman

Wilma Van Rensburg

Paul William Reader

Johan Arnold Vosloo

Anscha Mari Troskie

Abré De Beer

The invention provides a method for preventing or treating microbial growth on a manufactured material or product. A composition comprising a cyclic decapeptide which is a tyrocidine, trypocidine, phenycidine or gramicidin S having an amino acid sequence of cyclo(valine-X-leucine-D-phenylalanine-proline-X-X-X-X-X) (SEQ ID NO: 1) is applied to the product and the cyclic decapeptides are adsorbed onto the product. Suitable products include medical devices (e.g. a catheter), wound dressings, food packaging, containers, wrappings, surfaces or devices used in the processing, transport or storage of food, filters, composites, paper, wrapping materials, walls, work surfaces, floors, pipes or the like. The composition could be used to disinfect or sterilise a material, surface or product or to inhibit formation of biofilms and/or biofouling on the surface of the product to which it is applied.

Method for preventing or treating microbial growth on a manufactured product

A peptide-polymer conjugate is provided for use in treating malaria infections, and in particular terminal or drug resistant malaria infections. The conjugate is formed from a polymer to which a peptide having activity against a malaria parasite is co-valently attached. The peptide is a cyclic decapeptide from the closely-related group of tyrocidines, tryptocidines, phenycidines and gramicidin S, and the polymer is a hydrophilic and biocompatible polymer with a terminal thiol, such as poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone) (PVP). The polymer chains can be decorated with a hydrophilic targeting ligand that specifically targets an epitope on red blood cells, and in particular red blood cells infected with a plasmodial parasite. A method for synthesising the peptide-polymer conjugate is also provided.

Conjugate for treating malaria

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Stellenbosch, South Africa

Marina Rautenbach