INHIBITION OF BACTERIAL-GROWTH BY SYNTHETIC SP-B1-78 PEPTIDES

Residues 12-34 of mature human pulmonary surfactant protein B (SP-B1-7 8) are 68% homologous to residues 48-72 of the frog peptide antibiotic dermaseptin b I. We examined the effects of SP-B1-78 on the growth of Escherichia coli in order to find whether full length SP-B1-78 might act as a peptide antibiotic. We found that SP-B1-78 peptide inhibited growth Of E. coil (MIG = 210 mu g.ml(-1)), but that the SP-B variant [ R/K --> S]SP-B1-78 was less potent (MIC = 500 lambda g.ml(-1)). (C) 19 97 Elsevier Science Inc.