University of British Columbia

Other

University of Colorado

Pence, Inc.

Hancock, Robert, E.w.

Robert E W Hancock

Monisha A Gough

Nedra Karunaratne

Artem Cherkasov

Kai Hilpert

Christopher Fjell

Robert S Hodges

B Brett Finlay

Timothy J Falla

Aleksander Patrzykat

Donald Woods

Xiaoyan Jia

Lijuan Zhang

Monisha Gough Scott

Dawn Bowdish

Carrie Melissa Rosenberger

Jon-Paul Steven Powers

John M Boyd

David Scott Wishart

Leslie H Kondejewski

Yuxin Chen

Michael Vasil

Susan W Farmer

Ronald N McElhaney

Ruthven N A H Lewis

Elmar J Prenner

Manhong Wu

David G Hancock

Olga M Pena Serrato

John Boyd

A method of diagnosing severe sepsis prior to definitive clinical diagnosis. A pattern of gene expression that correlates strongly with a future diagnosis of severe sepsis and organ failure was identified in patients who had their blood drawn at first clinical presentation. The methods comprise identifying a pattern of two or more polynucleotides, whereby the altered expression of these polynucleotides correlates with prospective and actual sepsis. Also methods of identifying agents for treating sepsis based on the characteristics of this gene expression pattern are provided.

Diagnostic for sepsis

The present invention relates generally to peptides and more specifically to antimicrobial and immunomodulatory host defense peptides.

Small cationic antimicrobial peptides

Disclosed herein are novel antimicrobial peptides with useful, improved, or superior properties such as antimicrobial activity, desirable levels of hemolytic activity, and therapeutic index against a broad range of microorganisms including gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria and other organisms having a cellular or structural component of a lipid bilayer membrane. Also provided are methods of making and using such peptides to control microbial growth and in pharmaceutical compositions for treatment or prevention of infections caused by such microorganisms. Certain peptides are disclosed utilizing a structure-based rational design relating to an antimicrobial peptide, V, with single D-/L-amino acid substitutions or charged residue substitutions in or near the center of the peptide on the nonpolar or polar face. Also disclosed are peptides with one or more amino acids in the D configuration, including peptides with all amino acids in the D configuration. Modified peptide analogs herein can demonstrate one or more properties such as improved antimicrobial activity, specificity, and resistance to degradation. Compositions disclosed herein have useful clinical potential as antibiotics including broad spectrum antibiotics.

Antimicrobial peptides and methods of use

A method of identifying a polynucleotide or pattern of polynucleotides regulated by one or more sepsis or inflammatory inducing agents and inhibited by a peptide is described. A method of identifying a pattern of polynucleotide expression for inhibition of an inflammatory or septic response. The method includes contacting cells with LPS, LTA, CpG DNA and/or intact microbe or microbial components in the presence or absence of a cationic peptide; detecting a pattern of polynucleotide expression for the cells in the presence and absence of the peptide, wherein the pattern in the presence of the peptide represents inhibition of an inflammatory or septic response. Also included are compounds and agents identified by the methods of the invention. In another aspect, the invention provides methods and compounds for enhancing innate immunity in a subject.

Effectors of innate immunity determination

Effectors of innate immunity

A novel class of cationic peptides having antimicrobial activity is disclosed. These peptides can be encompassed by the formulas: wherein: The invention also provides a method of producing a cationic peptide variant having antimicrobial activity.

Antimicrobial cationic peptides

A novel class of cationic peptides having antimicrobial activity is provided. Examples of such peptides include NH-KWKSFIKKLTTAVKKVLTTGLPALIS-COOH (SEQ ID NO:1) and NH-KWKSFIKKLTSAAKKVVTTAKPLISS-COOH (SEQ ID NO:2). Also provided are methods for inhibiting the growth of bacteria utilizing the peptides of the invention. The peptides are particularly useful for inhibiting endotoxemia in a subject.

A novel class of cationic peptides having antimicrobial activity is provided. Exemplary peptides of the invention include KWKSFIKKLTSAAKKVVTTAKPLALIS (SEQ ID NO:3) and KGWGSFFKKAAHVGKHVGKAALTHYL (SEQ ID NO:15). Also provided are methods for inhibiting the growth of bacteria utilizing the peptides of the invention. Such methods are useful for the treatment of respiratory infections, such as in cystic fibrosis patients. Such methods are further useful for accelerating wound healing.

Anti-endotoxic antimicrobial cationic peptides and methods of use therfor

A class of cationic, polyphemusin-like peptides having antimicrobial activity is provided. Examples of such peptides include FRWCFRVCYKGRCRYKCR (SEQ ID NO:3), RRWCFRVCYKGFCRYKCR (SEQ ID NO:4), and RRWCFRVCYRGRFCYRKCR (SEQ ID NO:11). Also provided are methods for inhibiting the growth of microbes such as bacteria, yeast and viruses utilizing the peptides of the invention. The peptides are particularly useful for inhibiting endotoxemia in a subject.

Antimicrobial peptides and methods of use thereof

A novel class of cationic peptides having antimicrobial activity is provided. Examples of such peptides include &lsqb;NH &rsqb;kWKSFIKKLTTAVKKVLTTGLPALIS&lsqb;COOH&rsqb; (SEQ ID NO:1) and &lsqb;NH &rsqb;KWKSFIKKLTSAAKKVVTTAKPLISS&lsqb;COOH&rsqb; (SEQ ID NO:2). Also provided are methods for inhibiting the growth of bacteria utilizing the peptides of the invention. The peptides are particularly useful for inhibiting endotoxemia in a subject.

The invention concerns antimicrobial cyclic peptides and peptide analogs having relatively low hemolytic activity. Peptides of the invention are effective in killing and/or inhibiting growth of a number of microorganisms, including gram-positive bacteria, gram-negative bacteria, fungi and mycoplasma. Also disclosed are methods for inhibiting or killing such microorganisms, and therapeutic preparations for such inhibiting or killing.

Antimicrobial peptide compositions and method

A novel class of cationic peptides having antimicrobial activity is provided. Examples of such peptides include NH,-KWKSFIKKLTTAVKKVLTTGLPALIS-COOH (SEQ ID NO:1) and NH,-KWKSFIKKLTSAAKKVVTTAKPLISS-COOH (SEQ ID NO:2). Also provided are methods for inhibiting the growth of bacteria utilizing the peptides of the invention. The peptides are particularly useful for inhibiting endotoxemia in a subject.

Growing community of inventors

Vancouver, Canada

Robert E W Hancock