Targeted antimicrobial moieties

Abstract

This invention provides novel targeted antimicrobial compositions. In various embodiments chimeric moieties are provided comprising an antimicrobial peptide attached to a peptide targeting moiety that binds a bacterial strain or species.

1 . A chimeric construct, said construct comprising:
 an effector attached to a peptide targeting moiety comprising an amino acid sequence found in Table 3 and/or Table 12.   
     
     
         2 - 5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . The chimeric construct of  claim 1 , wherein said effector comprises a moiety selected from the group consisting of an antimicrobial peptide, an antibiotic, a ligand, a lipid or liposome, an agent that physically disrupts the extracellular matrix within a community of microorganisms, and a polymeric particle. 
     
     
         7 . The chimeric construct of  claim 1 , wherein said effector comprises an antimicrobial peptide comprising an amino acid sequence found in Table 4, and/or Table 5, and/or Table 14, and/or Table 15. 
     
     
         8 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The chimeric construct of  claim 1 , wherein said targeting moiety is chemically conjugated to said effector. 
     
     
         14 . The chimeric construct of  claim 13 , wherein said targeting moiety is chemically conjugated to said effector via a linker. 
     
     
         15 . The chimeric construct of  claim 13 , wherein said targeting moiety is chemically conjugated to said effector via a linker comprising a polyethylene glycol (PEG). 
     
     
         16 . The chimeric construct of  claim 13 , wherein said targeting moiety is chemically conjugated to said effector via a non-peptide linker found in Table 16. 
     
     
         17 . The chimeric construct of  claim 1 , wherein said targeting moiety is linked directly to said effector. 
     
     
         18 . The chimeric construct of  claim 1 , wherein said targeting moiety is linked to said effector via a peptide linkage. 
     
     
         19 . The chimeric construct of  claim 18 , wherein said effector comprises an antimicrobial peptide and said construct is a fusion protein. 
     
     
         20 . The chimeric construct of  claim 18 , wherein said targeting moiety is attached to said effector by a peptide linker comprising or consisting of an amino acid sequence found in Table 16. 
     
     
         21 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a chimeric construct of  claim 1  in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 
     
     
         28 .- 29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . An antimicrobial composition effective to kill or to inhibit the growth and/or of a microorganism and/or the formation and/or maintenance of a biofilm, said composition comprising one or more isolated antimicrobial peptides, the amino acid sequences of said peptides comprising one or more sequences selected from the amino acid sequences listed in Table 4 and/or Table 5. 
     
     
         31 .- 55 . (canceled) 
     
     
         56 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein said peptides comprise all “L” amino acids. 
     
     
         57 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein said peptides comprise all “D” amino acids. 
     
     
         58 . (canceled) 
     
     
         59 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein said peptides are β peptides. 
     
     
         60 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein said peptides comprise one or more protecting groups. 
     
     
         61 - 65 . (canceled) 
     
     
         66 . A method of killing and/or inhibiting the growth and/or proliferation of a microorganism, said method comprising contacting said microorganism with a chimeric construct of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         67 - 80 . (canceled) 
     
     
         81 . A method of detecting a bacterium and/or a bacterial film, said method comprising:
 contacting said bacterium or bacterial film with a composition comprising a detectable label attached to a targeting peptide comprising one or more amino acid sequences found Table 3 and/or Table 12; and   detecting said detectable label wherein the quantity and/or location of said detectable label is an indicator of the presence of said bacterium and/or bacterial film.   
     
     
         82 - 83 . (canceled) 
     
     
         84 . A composition comprising a photosensitizing agent attached to a targeting peptide comprising an amino acid sequence of a peptide found in Table 3 and/or Table 12. 
     
     
         85 - 90 . (canceled) 
     
     
         91 . A method of inhibiting the growth or proliferation of a microorganism or a biofilm, said method comprising contacting said microorganism or biofilm with a composition of  claim 84 . 
     
     
         92 - 112 . (canceled)