Patent ID: 6399570
Filing Date: 2002-06-04
Classification: A61K,A61P,C07K

Abstract:
An isolated anti-microbial and/or endotoxin-neutralizing polypeptide excluding the polypeptide of SEQ ID NO: 1, consisting of from N-terminus to C-terminus:(a) a first cluster of 2-7 amino acids wherein 2 of the 2-7 residues are strongly basic and identical to a contiguous sequence contained in the sequence GRRRRS (SEQ ID NO: 4) or a strongly basic substitute of the contiguous sequence; (b) a second cluster of 17-21 amino acids that has a grand hydropathicity value of at least âˆ’0.609 and an average aliphatic index value of at least 35.45; (c) a third cluster of 2 to 7 amino acids wherein 2 of the 2-7 residues are strongly basic and identical to a contiguous sequence contained in the sequence MRKVRG (SEQ ID NO: 5) or a strongly basic substitute of the contiguous sequence; and optionally (d) a fourth cluster of amino acids that is an endocytosis clearance fragment recognized and internalized by cells via endocytosis clearance pathway or a 1-17 amino acid cluster that contains substitute of a contiguous sequence contained in PVSCIKRDSPIQCIQAIA (SEQ ID NO: 3); wherein the clusters of amino acids are joined to form a single contiguous amide linkage backbone, and wherein the substitute preserves anti-microbial and/or endotoxin-neutralizing activity of the isolated polypeptide.