Antimicrobial peptides

Abstract: This invention relates to an antimicrobial peptide possessing or containing one of the following amino acid sequences (a), (b), (c), or (d)

Description: The present invention concerns antimicrobial peptides and an antimicrobial agent. More specifically, it concerns an antimicrobial agent containing novel antimicrobial peptides, salts of these peptides, or a mixture thereof, as active components, a method for treating products which uses this antimicrobial agent, and an antimicrobial peptide compound containing an antimicrobial peptide, a salt of this peptide or a mixture of at least two of these salts, as active components. In the specification of the present invention, the amino acids and peptides are represented by the abbreviations employed by IUPAC-IUB Committee on Biochemical Nomenclature, such as the following abbreviations. Ala-: L-Alanine residue Arg-: L-Arginine residue Asn-: L-Asparagine residue Asp-: L-Aspartic acid residue Cys-: L-Cysteine residuc Gln-: T-Glutamine residue Glu-: L-Glutamic acid residue Gly-: L-Glycine residue His-: L-Histidine residue Ile-: L-Isoleucine residue Leu-: L-Leucine residue Lys-: L-Lysine residue Mct-: L-Methionine residue Phe-: L-Phenylalanine residue Pro-: L-Proline residue Ser-: L-Serine residue Thr-: L-Threonine residue Trp-: L-Tryptophan residue Tyr-: L-Tyrosine residue Val-: L-Valine residue Numerous inventions concerning peptides which possess antimicrobial properties against various microorganisms have so far been reported. Examples include a phosphonotripeptide (Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.106689/82), a phosphonodipeptide derivative (Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.13594/83) and a cyclic peptide derivative (Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.213744/83) effective against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, a peptide demonstrating an antimicrobial and antiviral action (Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.51247/84), a polypeptide effective against yeast (Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.130599/85), a saccharopeptide derivative effective against gram-positive bacteria (Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.172998/85, Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.251699/86, Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.44598/88), an oligopeptide effective against gram-positive bacteria (Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.22798/87), a peptidal antibiotic substance (Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.51697/87, Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.17897/88) as well as an antimicrobial peptide extracted from blood cells of North American king crabs (Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.53799/90) and an antimicrobial peptide isolated from blood lymph of honeybees (Japanese Patent Provisional Publication No.500084/90). On the other hand, lactoferrin, which is a natural iron-binding protein contained in tears, saliva, peripheral blood, milk etc. is known to demonstrate an antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Candida, Clostridium and other harmful microorganisms (Journal of Pediatrics, Vol. 94, p. 1, 1979). The inventors of the present invention, in planning to cheaply isolate from nature a substance which possesses strong antimicrobial properties, which has no undesirable side effects (such as antigenicity) and is heat-resistant, focused on whey, a by-product of cheese manufacturing, and conducted research regarding the antimicrobial properties of the lactoferrin contained in it. They discovered that the catabolite of lactoferrin hydrolysis by an acid or an enzyme has stronger heat resistant and antimicrobial properties than the non-hydrolyzed lactoferrin, and have filed a patent application (Japanese Patent Application No.13315/90). The composition and action of the antimicrobial substance present in such a lactoferrin hydrolysate have not been sufficiently understood, however, and, therefore, the development of an effective antimicrobial agent The objective of the present invention is to provide novel antimicrobial peptides which can be isolated from lactoferrin hydrolysate and contain specific amino acid sequences, an antimicrobial agent containing this peptide as an active component, a method for treating products which uses this antimicrobial agent, and an antimicrobial composition containing this peptide as an active component. The present invention provides (1) a substantially pure antimicrobial peptide having at least the following amino acid sequence (a), (b), (c) or (d), and pharmaceutically or sitologically approved salts thereof, or a mixture of at least two of the above, as active components. (2) an antimicrobial agent characterized by the fact that it contains substances selected from the group consisting of peptides containing at least the following amino acid sequences, and pharmaceutically or sitologically approved salts thereof, or a mixture of at least two of the above, as active components, (3) a method for treating products which uses this antimicrobial agent, the products not being a live animal or human, or live parts or portions thereof, where Cys* represents cysteine in which the thiol group has been chemically modified in order to prevent disulfide bond formation. Both Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show elution curves of the antimicrobial peptides obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography. The peptides of the present invention can be chemically synthesized by conventional methods, but can also be isolated, for example, from lactoferrin of mannals in the following manner. That is, the peptides can be isolated from a hydrolysate (this hydrolysate will be referred to hereinafter as "LF hydrolysate") obtained from, for example, acid or enzymatic hydrolysis of lactoferrin, apolactoferrin (which is lactoferrin from which iron has been removed) or metal-saturated lactoferrin (which is apolactoferrin which has formed a chelate with a metal such as iron, copper, zinc, manganese, etc.), etc. (hereinafter collectively referred to as "LF"), which have been isolated by conventional methods, such as ion-exchange chromatography, etc., from colostrum, transitional milk, normal milk, late lactation milk, etc., of mammals (such as human, cow, water buffalo, horse, goat or sheep), and the processed products thereof, such as skimmed milk, whey, etc. (hereinafter referred to as "milk, etc."). In cases in which the LF hydrolysate is obtained using an acid, the LF is dissolved in water, purified water etc. at a concentration of 0.1 to 20% (weight. the same hereinafter unless otherwise indicated), preferably 5 to 15%, after which an inorganic acid such as hydrochloric acid or phosphoric acid, or an organic acid such as citric acid, is added to the solution and the pH of the solution is adjusted to 1 to 4. The LF is hydrolyzed by heating the resultant pH-adjusted solution for a prescribed time-period to an appropriate temperature. For example, if the pH was adjusted to 1 to 2, the solution is heated to 80 to 130°C, and if the pH was adjusted to 2 to 4, it is heated to 100 to 130°C, for 1 to 120 minutes in each case. Next, the reaction solution is cooled in by conventional methods and neutralized, desalted or decolorized, as needed. In the cases in which the LF hydrolysate is obtained using an enzyme, the LF is dissolved in water, sterilized water, purified water etc. to a concentration of 0.5 to 20%, preferably 5 to 15%, the enzyme is added to it and hydrolysis is carried out. There are no particular limitations on the enzyme used, and commercially available products such as Molsin F (trademark; manufactured by Seishin Pharmaceutical Co.; optimal pH 2.5 to 3.0), porcine pepsin (manufactured by Wako Pure Chemical Industries; optimal pH 2 to 3), Sumizyme AP (trademark; manufactured by New Japan Chemical Co.; optimal pH 3.0), Amano A (trademark; manufactured by Amano Pharmaccutical Co.; optimal pH 7.0), trypsin (manufactured by Novo Co; optimal pH 8.0) and other endopeptidases can be used individually or in any desired combination. In addition, exopeptidase derived from, for example, lactobacilli, obtained according to the method cited in Japanese Patent Publication No.43878/73, or commercially available peptidases employed in the production of soy sauce (manufactured by Tanabe Pharmaceutical Co.), etc., can be used in combination with these enzymes. The quantity of enzyme used should be within a range of 0.1 to 5.0% with respect to the substrate. Hydrolysis of LF is performed by adjusting the pH of the LF solution approximately to the optimal pH of the enzyme used, adding the enzyme and maintaining the solution at 15 to 55°C, preferably 30 to 50°C, for 30 to 600 minutes, preferably for 60 to 300 minutes. Next, the reaction solution is maintained as it is or neutralized, the enzyme is inactivated by heating using conventional methods and neutralization or decoloration can be performed, as needed. By using conventional chromatographic methods etc., the antimicrobial peptides of the present invention can be isolated from the LF hydrolysate so obtained. For example, the peptides can be isolated in high-performance liquid chromatography in which TSK gel ODS 120 T (manufactured by Tosoh Co.) is used by eluting a fixed fraction in an acetonitrile gradient. By following the above method, the antimicrobial peptides of the present invention can be isolated from an LF hydrolysate. As shown in Experiments 2, 4, 6 and 8, the isolated antimicrobial peptides contain, in every case, the amino acid sequence A or B, and changes in the amino acid sequences in sections other than these common amino acid sequences were found to have no effect on the antimicrobial properties (see Experiments 1, 3, 5 and 7). Examples of chemical synthesis of the antimicrobial peptides of the present invention are as follows. Using an automated peptide synthesizer (such as the one manufactured by Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology Co., LKB Biolynk 4170), the peptides are synthesized following the solid-phase peptide synthesis method of Sheppard el al. (Journal of Chemical Society Perkin I, p. 538, 1981). N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide is added to amino acids whose amine functional groups are protected by 9-fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl (Fmoc) groups (hereinafter referred to as "Fmoc-amino acid") and anhydrides of the desired amino acids are produced, and these Fmoc-amino acid anhydrides are used for synthesis. In order to produce a peptide chain, an Fmoc-amino acid anhydride corresponding to the C-terminal amino acid residue is fixed to Ultrosyn A resin (manufactured by Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology Co.) through the carboxyl group thereof, using dimethylaminopyridine as a catalyst. Next, the resin is washed with dimethylformamide containing piperidine, and the protecting group of the amine functional group of the C-terminal amino acid is removed. Next, an Fmoc-amino acid anhydride corresponding to the amino acid residue which is second from the C-terminal of the amino acid sequence of the desired peptide is coupled to the unprotected amine functional group of the first amino acid fixed to the resin through the above-mentioned C-terminal amino acid residue. Subsequently the successive desired amino acids are fixed in the same manner. In the case of cysteine, however, an Fmoc-amino acid whose SH group was protected by acetoamidomethyl is used. After coupling of all the amino acids is completed and the peptide chain of the desired amino acid sequence is formed, the protective groups other than acetoamidomethyl are removed and the peptide is released with a solvent (composed of, for example, 94% trifluoroacetic acid, 5% phenol and 1% ethandiol), and the acetoamidomethylated peptide is purified using high-performance liquid chromotography. Next, the acetoamidomethylated peptide is dissolved in 90% acetic acid aqueous solution at a concentration of 0.5 mM, to which is added 1/4 volume of 1 M hydrochloric acid and eight volumes of a 90% acetic acid aqueous solution containing 50 mM iodine and the solution is vigorously stirred for 30 minutes. Next, 1/22.5 volumes of 1 M sodium thiosulfate aqueous solution is added and the reaction is stopped, and the solution is concentrated to 1/3 of its volume. This concentrated solution is fractionated with Sephadex G-15 (manufactured by Pharmacia Co.) and a peptide which has formed SS bonds is purified. The peptides synthesized in this manner possess antimicrobial properties similar to that of the peptides isolated from nature, as shown in Experiment 9. The following peptides whose thiol groups have been chemically modified using a conventional mehtod (for example, by pyridylethylation) in order to prevent formation of disulfide bonds of the antimicrobial peptides obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis or the antimicrobial peptides obtained by synthesis, similarly possesses antimicrobial properties (Experiment 11). Lys-Cys*-Arg-Arg-Trp-Gln-Trp-Arg-Met-Lys-Lys-Leu-Gly-Ala-Pro-Ser-Ile-Thr-Cys*-Val- and Lys-Cys*-Phe-Gln-Trp-Gln-Arg-Asn-Met-Arg-Lys-Val-Arg-Gly-Pro-Pro-Val-Ser-Cys*-Ile- where Cys* in the above-mentioned amino acid sequence represents cysteine whose thiol group has been chemically modified. The antimicrobial peptides so obtained, the pharmaceutically or sitologically approved salts thereof, or a mixture of at least two of the above, are included as active components at a concentration of at least 5 ppm and preferably 10 to 50 ppm, in order to obtain the antimicrobial agent or the antimicrobial peptide compound of the present invention. The antimicrobial peptides of the present invention or their derivatives can be administered to humans or to animals without further modifications, can be used in food products (such as chewing gum), medicinal pharmaceutical products (such as eye medications, mastitis medications, diarrhea medications and athlete's foot medications), non-medicinal pharmaceutical products (such as mouth washes, antiperspirants and hair tonics), various cosmetic products (such as hair conditioners, creams and lotions), various tooth-brushing products (such as toothpastes and toothbrushes), various feminine hygiene products, various baby products (such as diapers), various geriatric products (such as denture cement and diapers), various cleaning agents (such as soaps, medicinal soaps, shampoos, rinses, laundry detergents, kitchen detergents and house detergents), various sterilized products (such as sterilized kitchen paper and sterilized toilet paper), feed (such as pet feed) and materials which serve as raw materials of the above, they can also be added to, compounded with, sprayed onto, adhered to or used for coating or impregnation of any and all products wherein prevention or inhibition of microbial proliferation is generally desired or otherwise used for treating any and all products wherein prevention or inhibition of microbial proliferation is generally desired. The antimicrobial peptides of the present invention or their derivatives can be used concomitantly with other antimicrobial agents, administered to humans or to animals without further modifications or used in food products (such as chewing gums), medicinal pharmaceutical products (such as eye medications, mastitis medications, diarrhea medications and athlete's foot medications), non-medicinal pharmaceutical products (such as mouth washes, antiperspirants and hair tonics), various cosmetic products (such as hair conditioners, creams and lotions), various tooth-brushing products (such as toothpastes and toothbrushes), various feminine hygiene products, various baby products (such as diapers), various geriatric products (such as denture cement and diapers), various cleaning agents (such as soaps, medicinal soaps, shampoos, rinses, laundry detergents, kitchen detergents and house detergents), various sterilized products (such as sterilized kitchen paper and sterilized toilet paper), feed (such as pet feed) and materials which serve as raw materials of the above, they can also be added to, compounded with, sprayed onto, adhered to or used for coating or impregnation of any and all products wherein prevention or inhibition of microbial proliferation is generally desired or otherwise used for treating any and all products wherein prevention or inhibition of microbial proliferation is generally desired. Next, the present invention will be described in detail by means of Experiments. (Experiment 1) This experiment was performed in order to study the antimicrobial activity of an antimicrobial peptide isolated from an enzymatic hydrolysate of bovine LF. (1) Experimental method 1. Preparation of a pre-incubation solution One platinum loop was collected from a stock slant of Escherichia coli, streaked on a standard agar medium (manufactured by Nissui Pharmaceutical Co.) and incubated under aerobic conditions for 16 hours at 35°C, the colonies which grew on the surface of the standard agar medium were collected using a platinum loop, suspended in sterilized physiological saline solution, the turbidity was measured using a spectrophotometer (manufactured by Hitachi Manufacturing Co.) and adjusted to 1.0 (measured wavelength 660 nm) and a pre-incubation solution was prepared. 2. Preparation of a basal medium Bactocasitone (manufactured by Difco Laboratory Co.) was dissolved at a concentration of 1% in purified water, the pH was adjusted to 7.0 with 1 M sodium hydroxide, the solution was sterilized at 115°C for 15 minutes and a basal medium (liquid medium) was prepared. 3. Preparation of the test media and of the control medium Each sample was dissolved at a concentration of 0.01% in purified water, sterilization was performed by using a sterilization filter (manufactured by Advantek Co.) and test media, prepared by adding samples at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 ppm to the basal medium, as well as a control medium with no added samples, were prepared. 4. Antimicrobial activity test The above-mentioned pre-incubation solution was inoculated into the above-mentioned test media and the control medium at a concentration of 1%, cultured under aerobic conditions for 16 hours at 35°C, the turbidities of the culture media were measured using the above-mentioned method and the rate of inhibition of E. coli proliferation was calculated according to the following formula. rate of inhibition of proliferation (%) = 100 (1 - A/B) wherein A is the difference in turbidity of the test culture medium (the difference between the turbidity of the test culture medium after 16 hours of culture and the turbidity of the test culture medium before the culturing) and B is the turbidity of the control medium (the difference between the turbidity of the control culture medium after 16 hours of culture and the turbidity of the control culture medium before the culturing). The percentages of the rate of inhibition of proliferation are not in weight (same hereinafter). (2) Sample preparation and results A transparent supernatant of pepsin hydrolysate of bovine LF which was prepared according to the same method as in Example 1 was diluted to about 2% (W/V) with purified water, 100 µl were subjected to chromatography at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min., using TSK gel ODS-120 T (manufactured by Tosoh Co., 4.6 x 150 mm) which had previously been equilibrated with a 20% acetonitrile solution containing 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), and after ten minutes, elution in a linear gradient of 20 to 60% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA was performed for 30 minutes, the eluate was collected every minute starting five minutes after the LF hydrolysate was injected and the elution curve shown in Fig. 1 was obtained. Fig. 1 is the light absorption curve at 280 nm of the fractions eluted in linear gradient high-performance liquid chromatography, the horizontal axis denotes time (minutes), the right vertical axis the acetonitrile concentration and the dashed line shows the change in acetonitrile concentration. This process was repeated ten times and each fraction was vacuum-dried. The antimicrobial properties of each of the fractions was studied according to the above-mentioned experimental method, and the results confirmed an antimicrobial effect only of the fraction obtained after 24 to 25 minutes of eluate collection at a concentration of 5 ppm. Next, this fraction was dissolved at 2% (W/V) in purified water, 100 µl of the solution were subjected to chromatography at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min, using TSK gel ODS-120 T (manufactured by Tosoh Co., 4.6 x 150 mm) which had previously been equilibrated with a 20% acetonitrile solution containing 0.05% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), and after ten minutes, elution in a linear gradient of 24 to 32% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA was performed for 30 minutes, six fractions were collected and the elution curve shown in Fig. 2 was obtained. Fig. 2 is the light absorption curve at 280 nm of the fractions eluted in linear gradient high-performance liquid chromatography, the horizontal axis denotes time (minutes), the right vertical axis the acetonitrile concentration, the dashed line shows the change in acetonitrile concentration and the numbers 1 to 6 appearing within the figure represent the numbers of the peaks. This process was repeated ten times, each fraction was vacuum-dried and the antimicrobial properties of each of the fractions was studied according to the above-mentioned experimental method. The results confirmed an antimicrobial effect only of peak 6, as shown in Table 1, at a concentration of 5 ppm. Since the yield of peaks 2, 4 and 5 was low, experiments involving addition of 100 ppm were not performed with regards to these peaks. (Table 1) (Experiment 2) This experiment was performed in order to determine the amino acid sequence of the antimicrobial peptide isolated in Experiment 1. The peptide obtained in Experiment 1 was hydrolyzed by 6 N hydrochloric acid and the amino acid composition was analyzed by conventional methods, using an amino acid analyzer. 25 cycles of Edman's degradation were performed on the same sample, using a gas-phase sequencer (manufactured by Applied Biosystems Co.), and a sequence of 25 amino acid residues was determined. In addition, the existence of a disulfide bond was confirmed using a disulfide bond analysis method (Analytical Biochemistry, Vol. 67, p. 493, 1975) in which DTNB (5,5-dithio-bis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid)) was used. As a result it was determined that this peptide consisted of 25 amino acid residues, that the third and the 20th cysteine residues formed a disulfide bond, that to the third cysteine residue there were two amino acid residues bound on the N-terminal side, that to the 20th cysteine residue there were five amino acid residues bound on the C-terminal, respectively, forming the following amino acid sequence. (Experiment 3) This experiment was performed in order to study the antimicrobial activity of the antimicrobial peptides isolated from an acid hydrolysate of bovine LF. (1) Sample preparation Two peptides were isolated from a hydrolysate of bovine LF using the same method as in Example 2. (2) Experimental methods The same method as in Experiment 1 was used. (3) Results The results of this experiment are shown in Table 2. An antimicrobial effect was confirmed only in the two peptides which were analyzed using the same method as in Example 2 (peptide 1 eluted after 21 to 22 minutes and pepdde 2 eluted after 29 to 30 minutes of chromatography) at a concentration of 5 ppm. (Table 2) (Experiment 4) This experiment was performed in order to determine the amino acid sequence of the antimicrobial peptides isolated in Experiment 3. The antimicrobial peptides isolated using the same method as in Experiment 3 were studied using the same method as in Experiment 2 and the following amino acid sequences of the two peptides were determined. As a result it was determined that one of the peptides consisted of 38 amino acid residues, that the 16th and the 33rd cysteine residues formed a disulfide bond, that to the 16th cysteine residue there were 15 amino acid residues bound on the N-terminal side, that to the 33rd cysteine residue there were five amino acid residues bound on the C-terminal side, respectively. It was determined that the other peptide consisted of 32 amino acid residues, that the tenth and the 27th cysteine residues formed a disulfide bond, that to the tenth cysteine residue there were 9 amino acid residues bond on the N-terminal side, and that to the 27th cysteine residue there were five amino acid residues bound on the C-terminal side, respectively. (Experiment 5) This experiment was performed in order to study the antimicrobial activity of the antimicrobial peptide isolated from a pepsin hydrolysate of human LF. (1) Sample preparation A peptide was isolated from a hydrolysate of human LF by the same method sa in Example 3. (2) Experimental methods The same method as in Experiment 1 was used. (3) Results An antimicrobial effect was confirmed only in the peptide which was isolated using the same method as in Example 3, and the rates of inhibition of proliferation when this peptide was added at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 ppm were 3, 86, 100, 100 and 100%, respectively. (Experiment 6) This experiment was performed in order to determine the amino acid sequence of the antimicrobial peptide isolated in Experiment 5. The antimicrobial peptide isolated using the same method as in Experiment 5 was studied using the same method as in Experiment 2 and the following amino acid sequence was determined. As a result it was determined that this peptide consisted of 47 amino acid residues, that the ninth and the 26th cysteine residues formed a disulfide bond, that to the ninth cysteine residue there were eight amino acid residues bound on the N-terminal side, that ten amino acid residues were bound on the C-terminal side and that the 35th cysteine residue on the C-terminal side formed a disulfide bond with a cysteine residue contained in 11 amino acid residues. (Experiment 7) This experiment was performed in order to study the antimicrobial activity of an antimicrobial peptide isolated from a V8 protease hydrolysate of human LF. (1) Sample preparation A peptide was isolated from a hydrolysate of human LF using the same method as in Example 4. (2) Experimental methods The same method as in Experiment 1 was used. (3) Results An antimicrobial effect was confirmed only in the peptide which was isolated using the same method as in Example 4, and the rates of inhibition of proliferations when this peptide was added at concentrations of 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 ppm were 7, 93, 100 and 100%, respectively. (Experiment 8) This experiment was performed in order to determine the amino acid sequence of the antimicrobial peptide isolated in Experiment 7. The antimicrobial peptide isolated using the same method as in Experiment 7 was studied using the same method as in Experiment 2 and the following amino acid sequence was determined. As a result it was determined that this peptide consisted of 25 amino acid residues, that the fourth and the 21st cysteine residues formed a disulfide bond, that to the forth cysteine residue there were three amino acid residues bound on the N-terminal side and that to the 21st cysteine residue there were four amino acid residues bound on the C-terminal side, respectively. (Experiment 9) This experiment was performed in order to study the antimicrobial activity of a chemically synthesize peptide which was identical to the peptide whose amino acid sequence was determined in Experiment 2. (1) Sample preparation A peptide was synthesized using the same method as in Example 5. (2) Experimental methods The same method as in Experiment 1 was used (3) Results The results of this experiment showed that the chemically-synthesized peptide exhibited antimicrobial properties equivalent to the antimicrobial properties of the peptide which was isolated from bovine LF hydrolysate in Experiment 2. (Experiment 10) The experiment was performed in order to study the antimicrobial properties of the acetoamidomethylated peptide which was produced in the process of peptide synthesis in Experiment 9. An acetoamidomethylated peptide was synthesized using the same method as in Example 5 and studied using the same method as in Experiment 1, the results of which showed an antimicrobial effect of the acetoamidomethylated peptide at a concentration of 5 ppm. (Experiment 11) This experiment was performed in order to study the antimicrobial properties of a peptide whose disulfide bonds were cleaved. The peptide prepared using the same method as in Experiment 1 was reduced and subjected to pyridylethylation according the method of Fulmar et al (Analytical Biochemistry, Vol.142,p.336, 1984). The peptide was studied using the same method as in Experiment 1, and, as a result, antimicrobial actibity was seen at a concentration of 5 ppm. (Experiment 12) This experiment was performed in order to study the antimicrobial spectrum of the antimicrobial peptides of the present invention. (1) Sample preparation An antimicrobial peptide was prepared using the same method as in Example 1 and sterilized by filtration using a 0.45 µm Millex filter prior to use. (2) Experimental methods The various microorganisms shown in Table 3 and in Table 4 were incubated for 16 to 20 hours in 2 ml of peptone medium which consisted of 1% Bactopeptone (manufactured by Difco Laboratory Co.), or in 2 ml of PYG medium which consisted of 1% Bactopeptone (manufactured by Difco Laboratory Co.), 1% glucose and 0.05% yeast extract. The antimicrobial peptide was added to each medium at various ratios of 0 µg/ml to 60 µg/ml. Standard bacteria strains of various microorganisms in the logarithmic phase were inoculated into the various media at a cell concentration of 10 6 /ml and incubated at 37°C, with the exception of the bacterial strains mentioned in the footnotes of the tables. The growth of the various microorganisms was studied by measuring the light absorption at 660 nm. The minimum concentration of the antimicrobial peptide which completely inhibited growth of the various microorganisms was considered the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC. µg/ml). (3) Results The results of this experiment are shown in Table 3 and Table 4. As is clear from Table 3 and Table 4, the antimicrobial peptide showed an antimicrobial activity at low concentrations of less than 45 µg/ml against many types of gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria, including aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and yeast. The concentration of the antimicrobial peptide in which growth of the microoganisms was completely inhibited varied depending on the medium. Among the microorganisms studied, Pseudomonas fluorescens IFO-141602 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC-E19433 showed resistance to the antimicrobial peptide under the conditions of this experiment. In addition, virtually identical results were obtained with other antimicrobial peptides of the present invention. (Table 3) (Table 4) (Experiment 13) This experiment was performed in order to study the effect of the antimicrobial peptides of the present invention on the survival of various microorganisms. (1) Sample preparation An animicrobial peptide was prepared using the same method as in Example 1. (2) Experimental methods The various microorganisms shown in Table 5 and Table 6 in the logarithmic phase were suspended in a PYG medium identical to that used in Experiment 12 and a sample to which the antimicrobial peptide was added at a ratio of 31 µg/ml, as well as a control to which the antimicrobial peptide was not added, were incubated using a shaking incubator with the water bath maintaining a temperature of 30°C. After 60 minutes, culture media were prepared by diluting ten-fold with a peptone medium identical to the one used in Experiment 12, the bacterial count was measured using an agar plate or other media suitable for measurement of the colonies formed, and the survival rates of the various microorganisms were studied by calculating the percentages of the antimicrobial peptide-added samples with respect to the control. (3) Results The results of this experiment are shown in Table 5 and Table 6. As is clear from Table 5 and Table 6, the antimicrobial peptide showed an antimicrobial activity against many types of gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria including aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and yeast. The antimicrobial properties of the antimicrobial peptide were demonstrated by a complete loss of colony formation capacity of the microorganisms at a concentration of 31 µg/ml within 60 minutes. Among the microorganisms studied, Pseudomonas fluorescens IFO-141602 and Bifidobacterium bifidum ATCC-15695 showed resistance to the antimicrobial peptide under the conditions of this experiment. In addition, virtually identical results were obtained with other antimicrobial peptides of the present invention. (Table 5) (Table 6) (Experiment 14) This experiment was performed in order to study the effect of the antimicrobial peptide of the present invention against fungus. (1) Sample preparation An antimicrobial peptide was prepared using the same method as in Example 1 and sterilized by filtration using a 0.45 µm Millex filter prior to use. (2) Experimental methods The fungi shown in Table 7 were inoculated into 4 ml of Sabouraud's slant medium which consisted of 1% Bactopeptone (manufactured by Difco Laboratory Co.), 4% glucose and 1.5% ajar, and incubated for one week at 25°C. 1 ml of 1% peptone water was layered on top of the medium, agitated with a Vortex and the spores were collected. 20 µl of the spore suspension solution were incubated for 20 hours in 2 ml of peptone medium which consisted of 1% Bactopeptone (manufactured by Difco Laboratory Co.) or in 2 ml of PYG medium which consisted of 1% Bactopeptone (manufactured by Difco Laboratory Co.), 1% glucose and 0.05% yeast extract. The antimicrobial peptide was added to each medium at various ratios ranging from 0 µg/ml to 60 µg/ml. The initial fungus count was measured in a Sabouraud agar medium to which 0.005% of Rose bengal was added, and the concentration at which no growth of hyphae was seen after 20 hours was considered the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC. µg/ml). (3) Results The results of this experiment are shown in Table 7. As is clear from Table 7, the antimicrobial peptide showed an antimicrobial activity at low concentrations of less than 45 µg/ml against various fungi. Overall, the concentration of the antimicrobial peptide at which growth of fungi was completely inhibited varied depending on the medium. Among the fungi studied, Aspergillus fumigatus JCM-1739 and Rhizopus oryzae JCM-5557 showed resistance to the antimicrobial peptide under the conditions of this experiment. In addition, virtually identical results were obtained with other antimicrobial peptides of the present invention. (Experiment 15) An antimicrobial peptide which was produced using the same method as in Example 1 was dissolved at a concentration of 0.001% in purified water, a tissue paper was immersed in the solution and a wet tissue paper (sample), usable as a towelette, was produced. A wet tissue paper, usable as a towelette, which was produced in the same way by immersing a tissue paper in purified water, was used as control. 0.3 ml of aqueous solution which contained E. coli strain O-111 at a cell concentration of 10 6 /ml was placed in a sterilized plate and air-dried. The plate was wiped once with the sample or with the control, 5 ml of sterilized water was added to the plate and the surviving E. coli bacteria in this sterilized water were incubated using a conventional method on a nutrient agar medium (Plate Count Agar; manufactured by Eiken Chemical Co.) and counted. As a result, 42 E. coli bacteria were counted from the plate which had been wiped with the sample, versus 38,000 E. coli bacteria which were counted from the plate wiped with the control, and the wet tissue paper which was immersed in an aqueous solution of the antimicrobial peptide showed a remarkable bactericidal effect. (EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION) Since the antimicrobial peptide of the present invention possesses an antimicrobial activity which is considerably better than that of natural LF of LF hydrolysate and is effective against a wide range of microorganisms, it is suitable for a wide range of applications, and since it demonstrates an antimicrobial effect even in small amounts, it can be applied to food products etc. with hardly any effect on their flavor. The present invention will now be explained in further detail by means of examples. Of course, the present invention is not limited to or by these examples. Example 1 50 mg of commercially available bovine LF (manufactured by Sigma Co.) was dissolved in 0.9 ml of purified water, the pH was adjusted to 2.5 with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid, 1 mg of commercially available porcine pepsin (manufactured by Sigma Co.) was added and hydrolysis was performed for six hours at 37°C. Next, the pH was adjusted to 7.0 by adding 0.1 N sodium hydroxide, the solution was heated to 80°C for ten minutes and the enzyme was inactivated, the solution was cooled down to room temperature, centrifugation was performed at 15,000 rpm for 30 minutes and a transparent supernatant was obtained. 100 µl of this supernatant were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography using TSK gel ODS-120 T (manufactured by Tosoh Co.) and at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min., it was eluted for ten minutes after sample injection with 20% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA, after which elution in a gradient of 20 to 60% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA was performed for 30 minutes and the fraction eluted after 24 to 25 minutes was collected and vacuum-dried. The diried substance was dissolved at a concentration of 2% (W/V) in purified water, subjected again to high-performance liquid chromatography using TSK gel ODS-120 T (manufactured by Tosoh Co.), and at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min., it was eluted for ten minutes after sample injection with 24% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA, after which elution in a gradient of 24 to 32% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA was performed for 30 minutes and the fraction eluted after 33.5 to 35.5 minutes was collected. The above-mentioned procedure was repeated 25 times and about 1.5 mg of vacuum-dried antimicrobial peptide was obtained. Example 2 50 mg of commercially available bovine LF (manufactured by the Belgium Oleofina Co.) was dissolved in 0.95 ml of purified water, the pH was adjusted to 2.0 with 1 M hydrochloric acid, hydrolysis was performed for 15 minutes at 120°C and the solution was cooled down to room temperature. Next, the pH was adjusted to 7.0 by adding 0.1 N sodium hydroxide, centrifugaition was performed at 15,000 rpm for 30 minutes and a transparent supernatant was obtained. 100 µl of this supernatant were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography using TSK gel ODS-120 T (manufactured by Tosoh Co.) and at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min., it was eluted for ten minutes after sample injection with 20% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA, after which elution in a gradient of 20 to 60% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA was performed for 30 minutes and the fraction eluted after 23 to 25 minutes was collected and vacuum-dried. The dried substance was dissolved at a concentration of 2% (W/V) in purified water, subjected again to high-performance liquid chromatography using TSK gel ODS-120 T (manufactured by Tosoh Co.), and at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min., it was eluted for ten minutes after sample injection with 24% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA, after which elution in a gradient of 24 to 32% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA was performed for 30 minutes and the fractions eluted after 21 to 22 minutes and after 29 to 30 minutes were collected. The above-mentioned procedure was repeated 25 times and about 3 mg of vacuum-dried antimicrobial peptide were obtained. Example 3 20 mg of commercially available human LF (manufactured by Sigma Co.) was dissolved in 1.0 ml of purified water, the pH was adjusted to 2.5 with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid, 0.5 mg of commercially available porcine pepsin (manufactured by Sigma Co.) was added and hydrolysis was performed for five hours at 37°C. Next, the pH was adjusted to 7.0 by adding 0.1 N sodium hydroxide, the solution was heated to 80°C for ten minutes and the enzyme was inactivated, the solution was cooled down to room temperature, centrifugation was performed at 15,000 rpm for 30 minutes and a transparent supernatant was obtained. 100 µl of this supernatant were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography using TSK gel ODS-120 T (manufactured by Tosoh Co.) and at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min.,it was eluted for ten minutes after sample injection with 20% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA, after which elution in a gradient of 20 to 60% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA was performed for 30 minutes, the fraction eluted after 23 to 24 minutes was collected and vacuum-dried. The dried substance was dissolved at a concentration of 2% (W/V) in purified water, subjected again to high-performance liquid chromatography using TSK gel ODS-120 T (manufactured by Tosoh Co.), and at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min., it was eluted for ten minutes after sample injection with 24% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA, after which elution in a gradient of 24 to 32% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA was performed for 30 minutes and the fraction eluted after 28 to 31 minutes was collected. The above-mentioned procedure was repeated ten times and about 1 mg of vacuum-dreied antimicrobial peptide was obtained. Example 4 50 mg of commercially available human LF (manufactured by Sigma Co.) was dissolved in 0.95 ml of 10 mM phosphate buffer solution, 1.5 mg of commercially available V8 protease (manufactured by Boehringer-Mannheim Co.) was added and hydrolysis was performed for eight hours at 37°C. Next, the pH was adjusted to 7.0 by adding 0.1 N sodium hydroxide, the solution was heated to 80°C for ten minutes and the enzyme was inactivated, the solution was cooled down to room temperature, centrifugation was performed at 15,000 rpm for 30 minutes and a transparent supernatant was obtained. 100 µl of this supernatant were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography using TSK gel ODS-120 T (manufactured by Tosoh Co.) and, after sample injection at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min., it was eluted for ten minutes with 20% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA, after which elution in a gradient of 20 to 60% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA was performed for 30 minutes and the fraction eluted after 23 to 24 minutes was collected and vacuum-dried. The dried substance was dissolved at a concentration of 2% (W/V) in purified water, subjected again to high-performance liquid chromatography using TSK gel ODS-120 T (manufactured by Tosoh Co.) and at a flow rate of 0.8 ml/min., it was eluted for ten minutes after sample injection with 24% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA, after which elution in a gradient of 24 to 32% acetonitrile containing 0.05% TFA was performed for 30 minutes and the fraction eluted after 25.5 to 26.5 minutes was collected. The above-mentioned procedure was repeated 25 times and about 3 mg of vacuum-dried antimicrobial peptide were obtained. Example 5 The peptide whose amino acid sequence was determined in Experiment 2 was synthesized using an automated peptide synthesizer (manufactured by Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology Co., Trademark. LKB Biolynk 4170). 390 mg of Fmoc-phenylalanine anhydride were fixed to Ultrosyn A resin (manufactured by Pharmacia LKB Biotechnology Co.) through the carboxyl group, using dimethylaminopyridine as a catalyst. Next, the resin was washed with dimethylformamide containing piperidine, and the protecting group of the amine functional group of the C-terminal amino acid was removed. 156 mg of the Fmoc-alanine anhydride of the second amino acid residue from the C-terminal were then coupled to the unprotected amine functional group of the above-mentioned phenylalanine residue. Subsequently the successive desired amino acids were fixed in the same manner, except for cysteine, in which an acetoamidomethylated Fmoc-amino acid was used, coupling of a phenylalanine residue which was 25th from the C-terminal was completed and a peptide chain of the desired amino acid sequence was formed. Next, the protective groups were removed and the peptide was released with a solvent (composed of 94% trifluoroacetic acid, 5% phenol and 1% ethandiol), the peptide was purified by using high-performance liquid chromatography, vacuum-dried and about 150 mg of acetoamidomethylated peptide were obtained. These 150 mg of acetoamidomethylated peptide were dissolved in 10 ml of 90% acetic acid aqueous solution, 2.5 ml of 1 M hydrochloric acid were added, furthermore 100 ml of 50 mM iodine dissolved in a 90% acetic acid aqueous solution were added, the solution was vigorously stirred for 30 minutes, 5 ml of 1 M sodium thiosulfate aqueous solution were added and the reaction was stopped, and the solution was concentrated to about 40 ml with a rotary evaporator. This concentrated solution was purified by using a Sephadex G 15 (manufactured by Pharmacia Co.) column (50 x 500mm), vacuum-dried, and about 70 mg of antimicrobial peptide were obtained. Example 6 1 mg of the antimicrobial peptide obtained using the same method as in Example 1 was dissolved in a mixture of 0.5 g of methylcellulose and 100 ml of purified water, and an antimicrobial agent was producted. Example 7 5 mg of the antimicrobial peptide obtained using the same method as in Example 4 were dissolved in a mixture of 20 ml of ethyl alcohol and 80 ml of pruified water, and an antimicrobial agent was produced. Example 8 An eye drop of the following composition was produced. Boric acid 1.9(%) The antimicrobial peptide of Example 1 0.2 Methylcellulose 0.5 Example 9 A mouth wash with the following composition was produced. This mouth wash is 50 to 10 times diluted with water at the time of use. Ethyl alcohol 20.0(%) Saccharin sodium 3.0 The antimicrobial peptide of Example 2 1.0 Purified water 76.0 Example 10 A chewing gum with the following composition was produced. Gum base 25.00(%) Calcium carbonate 2.00 Flavoring 1.00 The antimicrobial peptide Example 3 0.03 Sorbitol powder 71.97 Example 11 An antiperspirant spray with the following composition was produced. 1-Menthol 2.0(%) Propylene glycol 0.4 Ethyl alcohol 3.5 Freon 11 (trademark; manufactured by du Pont Co.; trichlorofluoromethane) 30.0 Freon 12 (trademark; manufactured by due Pont Co.; dichlorodifluoromethane) 48.0 Diethyl ether 16.0 The antimicrobial peptide of Example 5 0.1 Example 12 A toothpaste with the following composition was produced. Sorbitol 47.0(%) Glycerine 15.0 Carboxymethyl cellulose/sodium 2.0 Sorbitan fatty acid ester 1.0 Saccharin sodium 1.0 The antimicrobial peptide of Example 1 0.1 Example 13 A skin wash with the following composition was produced. This skin wash is 50 times diluted with water at the time of use. Sodium chloride 8.0% The antimicrobial peptide of Example 2 1.0 Purified water 91.0 Example 14 An antifungal agent with the following composition was produced. Ethyl alcohol 20.00(%) The antimicrobial peptide of Example 5 0.01 Purified water 79.99 Example 15 A cut flower preservative with the following composition was produce. This cut flower preservative is 100 times diluted with water at the time of use. Avicel (Microcrystalline form of cellulose) 90.0(%) Table salt 9.0 The antimicrobial peptide of Example 1 1.0 Sample Added quantity (ppm) and inhibitory rate (%) 1 5 10 50 100 peak 1 0 0 0 0 0 Peak 2 0 0 0 0 - Peak 3 0 0 0 0 0 Peak 4 0 0 0 0 - Peak 5 0 0 0 2 - Peak 6 6 100 100 100 100 Sample Added quantity (ppm) and inhibitory rate (%) 1 5 10 50 100 Peptide 1 4 100 100 100 100 Peptide 2 8 100 100 100 100 Microorganism Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (µg/ml) Peptone medium PYG medium Gram-negative bacteria strain Escherichia coli IID-861 6 9 Escherichia coli MMI-0111 6 12 Salmonella enteriditis IID-604 12 18 Yersinia enterocolitica IID-981 6 24 Proteus vulgaris JCM-1668T 12 45 Klebsiella pneumoniae JCM-1662T *1 6 12 Pseudomonas aeruginosa MMI-603 12 24 Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO-3445 6 18 Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO-3446 9 24 Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO-3448 9 45 Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO-3452 6 30 Pseudomonas fluorescens IFO-141602 *1 > 60 > 60 Yeast Candida albicans JCM-2900 *1 18 24 Candida albicans JCM-1542T *1 18 24 (Notes) Same notes as in Table 3 Microorganism Live bacteria count in 1 ml after 60 min. Survival rate (%) Control Antimicrobial peptide Gram-negative bacteria strain Escherichia coli IID-861 1.2 × 10 5 < 100 < 0. 08 Escherichia coli MMI-0111 4.3 × 10 6 < 100 < 0.01 Salmonella enteriditis IID-604 5.2 × 10 5 1.8 × 10 4 3.5 Proteus vulgaris JCM-1668T 5.2 × 10 6 1.6 × 10 6 31 Klebsiella pneumoniae JCM-1662T 3.2 × 10 6 < 100 < 0.01 Pseudomonas aeruginosa MMI-603 3.4 × 10 6 3900 0.1 Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO-3445 1.0 × 10 6 1100 0.1 Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO-3446 2.6 × 10 5 < 100 < 0.04 Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO-3448 4.2 × 10 5 3900 0.9 Pseudomonas aeruginosa IFO-3452 2.6 × 10 5 100 0.04 Pseudomonas fluorescens IFO-14160 3.1 × 10 6 3.4 × 10 6 100 Bacteroides distasonis MMI-M602*1 3.0 × 10 5 3400 1.1 Bacteroides vulgatus MMI-S601*1 6.0 × 10 5 500 0.1 Campylobacter jejuni JCM-2013*2 3.1 × 10 6 2800 0.1 Yeast Candida albicans JCM-2900 6.7 × 10 5 2100 0.3 Candida albicans JCM-1542T 5.8 × 10 5 2300 0.4 (Notes) Same notes as in Table 5 Fungus strain Initial fungus count Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (µg/ml) Peptone medium PYG medium Aspergillus fumigatus JCM1739 1.1 X 10 5 > 60 > 60 Aspergillus niger JCM5546 4.4 X 10 5 30 > 60 Penicillium pinophilum JCM5593 1.5 X 10 3 3 45 Penicillium vermiculatum JCM5594 1.4 X 10 3 6 45 Nannizzia incurvata JCM1906 8.0 X 10 3 3 9 Sporothrix cyanescens JCM2114 1.2 X 10 5 9 18 Rhizopus oryzae JCM5557 7.1 X 10 3 > 60 > 60 (Notes) JCM: Physicochemical Laboratories

Claims: A substantially pure antimicrobial peptide containing one of the following amino acid sequences (a), (b), (c), or (d) where Cys* represents cysteine in which the thiol group is blocked in order to prevent disulfide bond formation; and mixtures thereof and pharmaceutically and sitologically acceptable salts thereof. An antimicrobial agent or composition comprising as active components an antimicrobial substance selected from the group consisting of an antimicrobial peptide which contains at least one of the amino acid sequences (a), (b), (c), or (d) as defined in Claim 1, and pharmaceutically or sitologically acceptable salts thereof, or a mixture thereof. An antimicrobial agent as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the antimicrobial substance is contained at a concentration of at least 5 ppm (by weight). Use of a peptide as claimed in Claim 1 for the antimicrobial treatment of a product, the product not being a live animal or human, or live part or portion thereof.

Inventors: BELLAMY WAYNE ROBERT, KAWASA KOHZO, TAKASE MITSUNORI, TOMITA MAMORU, WAKABAYASHI HIROYUKI, YAMAUCHI KOHOJI, BELLAMY, WAYNE ROBERT, KAWASA, KOHZO, TAKASE, MITSUNORI, TOMITA, MAMORU, WAKABAYASHI, HIROYUKI, YAMAUCHI, KOHOJI, WAKABAYASHI, HIROYUKI, MORINAGA-KIBOHGAOKA-RYO, YAMAUCHI, KOHOJI, 405 GARDEN-HAITSU
Applicants: MORINAGA MILK INDUSTRY CO LTD, MORINAGA MILK INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: C07K7
IPC codes: C07K7, A61K38, A23L3, C12P21, A61Q15, A61P31, A61Q11, C07K14, A61K8, A61Q17, A61Q19