Antibacterial activity of multiple antigen peptides homologous to a loop region in human lactoferrin

An 11-residue peptide (FQWQRNMRKVR) homologous to just over half the loop r egion of human lactoferricin is thought to be responsible for antimicrobial properties of human lactoferricin. Multiple antigen peptides (MAP) of the Ii-residue peptide exerted significant antibacterial effects against a broa d spectrum of bacteria including MRSA. More than eight branching was favour able for increasing its antibacterial activity. Our report shows a novel po ssibility for MAP to increase the activity of antibiotic peptides other tha n simply to stimulate antibody production, as reported so far.