Anti-microbial peptides and uses of same

Abstract

A method of treating a bacterial infection in a subject is disclosed. The method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide being between 3 and 5 amino acids, wherein at least one amino acid of the 3 and 5 amino acids is selected from the group consisting of tryptophan, cysteine, proline and methionine.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of treating a bacterial infection in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a peptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of GPP, CKF, MCM, WKC, CKC, NMC, CQQ, WPR, MCP, MWT, QCW, DPP, FMC, HWM, WYT, HCW, PPW, WPC, YMW, CMR, CWS, GCW, IWC, IWW, PWW, WCS, NPC, WPP, WMW, CWY, HCC, WYC, FTW, IMH, KCM, HMC, QMC, CQW, PWC, CMM, IKC, IYM, PCM, VYM, CWP, HMY, PWM, CWK, MWY, TCH, WCQ, DWH, MHW, WFM, CWH, FKC, MWP, CBH, GWW, IQC, QCT, QCM, RQC, GCC, WMF, WPK, CQF, MCT, MCF, CEQ, CML, CWL, FEC, KCV, KQP, IWP and HNK, the peptide being no longer than 5 amino acids, wherein when said peptide comprises said amino acid sequence WPR said peptide is 3 amino acids long, thereby treating the bacterial infection. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the bacterial infection is induced by methicillin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus  or vancomycin resistant  Staphylococcus aureus.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is 3 or 4 amino acids long. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the peptide is 3 amino acids long. 
     
     
         5 . An isolated anti-microbial peptide being between 3 and 5 amino acids, the peptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of CKF, MCM, WKC, CKC, NMC, CQQ, WPR, MCP, MWT, QCW, DPP, FMC, HWM, WYT, HCW, PPW, WPC, YMW, CMR, CWS, GCW, IWC, IWW, PWW, WCS, NPC, WPP, WMW, CWY, HCC, WYC, FTW, IMH, KCM, HMC, QMC, CQW, PWC, CMM, IKC, IYM, PCM, VYM, CWP, HMY, PWM, CWK, MWY, TCH, WCQ, DWH, MHW, WFM, CWH, FKC, MWP, CBH, GWW, IQC, QCT, QCM, RQC, GCC, WMF, WPK, CQF, MCT, MCF, CEQ, CWL, FEC, KCV, KQP, IWP and HNK, wherein when said peptide comprises said amino acid sequence CQQ said peptide is 3 or 4 amino acids long and wherein when said peptide comprises said amino acid sequence WPR said peptide is 3 amino acids long. 
     
     
         6 . The isolated peptide of  claim 5 , being anti-bacterial. 
     
     
         7 . The isolated peptide of  claim 5 , capable of killing a bacteria selected from the group consisting of Escherichia coli ( E. coli ),  Shigella, Salmonella, Campilobacter, Vibrio, Helicobacter, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Candida, Neisseria, Chlamydia, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Legionella, Listeria, Mycobacterium, Leishmenia, Heamophilus, Pseudomonas, Plasmodium, Bacillus, Mycoplasma, Rickettsia, D. radiodurans, H. marismortui  and  T. thermopholus.    
     
     
         8 . The isolated peptide of  claim 5 , wherein said amino acid sequence is attached to a sustained-release enhancing agent selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid (HA), alginic acid (AA), polyhydroxyethyl methacrylate, polyethylene glycol, glyme and polyisopropylacrylamide. 
     
     
         9 . The isolated anti-microbial peptide of  claim 5 , being 3 or 4 amino acids long. 
     
     
         10 . The isolated anti-microbial peptide of  claim 5 , being 3 amino acids long. 
     
     
         11 . A solid support coated with the isolated peptide of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         12 . An anti-bacterial composition, comprising a carrier and as an active ingredient the isolated peptide of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         13 . A method of killing a microbe, the method comprising contacting the microbe with an isolated peptide comprising the amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of GPP, CKF, MCM, WKC, CKC, NMC, CQQ, WPR, MCP, MWT, QCW, DPP, FMC, HWM, WYT, HCW, PPW, WPC, YMW, CMR, CWS, GCW, IWC, IWW, PWW, WCS, NPC, WPP, WMW, CWY, HCC, WYC, FTW, IMH, KCM, HMC, QMC, CQW, PWC, CMM, IKC, IYM, PCM, VYM, CWP, HMY, PWM, CWK, MWY, TCH, WCQ, DWH, MHW, WFM, CWH, FKC, MWP, CBH, GWW, IQC, QCT, QCM, RQC, GCC, WMF, WPK, CQF, MCT, MCF, CEQ, CML, CWL, FEC, KCV, KQP, IWP and HNK, the peptide being no longer than 5 amino acids, wherein when said peptide comprises said amino acid sequence WPR said peptide is 3 amino acids long, thereby killing the microbe. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said contacting is effected in vivo. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said contacting is effected ex vivo. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the microbe comprises a bacteria. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said peptide is 3 or 4 amino acids long. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said peptide is 3 amino acids long.