THE ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF HEXAPEPTIDES DERIVED FROM SYNTHETIC COMBINATORIAL LIBRARIES

A series of peptides identified through the use of synthetic hexapepti de combinatorial libraries (represented by the formula Ac-RRWWCO-NH2) were examined for their antimicrobial activity against five different micro-organisms. Their toxicity was also evaluated in an in vitro haem olytic assay. The peptides showed activity against the five micro-orga nisms, although higher activities were found against Gram-positive bac teria. Both growth inhibition and cell viability assays were carried o ut to demonstrate the bactericidal activities of these peptides agains t two of the micro-organisms tested. The dimeric cystine forms of thes e peptides were shown to have biological activities identical to the m onomeric forms.