Cationic antimicrobial peptides: towards clinical applications

Cationic antimicrobial peptides are important components of the innate immu ne defences of all species of life. Variants of these natural molecules hav e a broad range of antibiotic, antifungal, antiviral and anti-endotoxic act ivity. Two of these cationic peptides have shown signs of efficacy in early clinical trials of oral mucositis and the sterilisation of central venous catheters, respectively and are currently proceeding through Phase III clin ical trials. Thus, cationic antimicrobial peptides are currently being inve stigated as topical agents. In addition, the cationic protein rBPI 21 has r ecently completed Phase III clinical trials of parenteral use for meningoco ccaemia.