A compound having the general formula: wherein B is -(CHR 2)-, E is -(CHR 3)-, V is -(XR 4)-, W is -(C=O)-(XR 5 R 6), X is nitrogen, and R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5, and R 6 are selected from an amino acid side chain moiety or derivative thereof, wherein the derivative is a straight chain or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic, substituted or non-substituted, saturated or non-saturated C 1-12 alkyl, C 6-12 aryl or C 7-12 aryl alkyl, wherein the substituents are selected from one or more of: -OH, -OR, -COOH, -COOR, -CONH 2, -NH 2, -NHR, -NRR, -SH, -SR, -SP 2 R, -SO 2 H, -SOR and halogen, wherein R is a straight chain or branched, cyclic or non-cyclic, substituted or non-substituted, saturated or non-saturated C 1-12 alkyl, C 6-12 aryl or C 7-12 aryl alkyl; and stereoisomers, and salts thereof, and wherein R 1, R 2, R 3, R 4, R 5 and R 6 are independently selected from the group consisting of aminoC 2-5 alkyl, guanidinoC 2-5 alkyl, C 1-4 alkylguanidinoC 2-5 alkyl, diC 1 - 4 alkylguanidino-C 2-5 alkyl, amidinoC 2-5 alkyl, C 1-4 alkylamidinoC 2-5 alkyl, diC 1-4 alkylamidinoC 2-5 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, phenyl, substituted phenyl (where the substituents are independently selected from one or more of amino, amidino, guanidino, hydrazino, amidrazonyl, C 1-4 alkylamino, C 1-4 dialkylamino, halogen, perfluoro C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, cyano, sulfuryl or hydroxyl), benzyl, substituted benzyl (where the substituents on the benzyl are independently selected from one or more of amino, amidino, guanidino, hydrazino, amidrazonyl, C 1-4 alkylamino, C 1-4 dialkylamino, halogen, perfluoro C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, cyano, sulfuryl or hydroxyl), naphthyl, substituted napthyl (where the substituents are independently selected from one or more of amino, amidino, guanidino, hydrazino, amidrazonyl, C 1-4 alkylamino, C 1-4 dialkylamino, halogen, perfluoro C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, cyano, sulfuryl or hydroxyl), bis-phenyl methyl, substituted bis-phenyl methyl (where the substituents are independently selected from one or more of amino, amidino, guanidino, hydrazino, amidrazonyl, C 1-4 alkylamino, C 1-4 dialkylamino, halogen, perfluoro C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, cyano, sulfuryl or hydroxyl), pyridyl, substituted pyridyl (where the substituents are independently selected from one or more of amino, amidino, guanidino, hydrazino, amidrazonyl, C 1-4 alkylamino, C 1-4 dialkylamino, halogen, perfluoro C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, cyano, sulfuryl or hydroxyl), pyridylC 1-4 alkyl, substituted pyridylC 1-4 alkyl (where the pyridine substituents are independently selected from one or more of amino, amidino, guanidino, hydrazino, amidrazonyl, C 1-4 alkylamino, C 1-4 dialkylamino, halogen, perfluoro C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, cyano, sulfuryl or hydroxyl), pyrimidylC 1-4 alkyl, substituted pyrimidylC 1-4 alkyl (where the pyrimidine substituents are independently selected from one or more of amino, amidino, guanidino, hydrazino, amidrazonyl, C 1-4 alkylamino, C 1-4 dialkylamino, halogen, perfluoro C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, cyano, sulfuryl or hydroxyl), triazin-2-yl-C 1-4 alkyl, substituted triazine-2-yl-C 1-4 alkyl (where the triazine substituents are independently selected from one or more of amino, amidino, guanidino, hydrazino, amidrazonyl, C 1-4 alkylamino, C 1-4 dialkylamino, halogen, perfluoro C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, cyano, sulfuryl or hydroxyl), imidazoC 1-4 alkyl, substituted imidazol C 1-4 alkyl (where the imidazol substituents are independently selected from one or more of amino, amidino, guanidino, hydrazino, amidrazonyl, C 1-4 alkylamino, C 1-4 dialkylamino, halogen, perfluoro C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-4 alkyl, C 1-3 alkoxy, nitro, carboxy, cyano, sulfuryl, hydroxyl, or methyl), imidazolinylC 1-4 alkyl, N-amidinopiperazinyl-N-C 0-4 alkyl, hydroxyC 2-5 alkyl, C 1-5 alkylaminoC 2-5 alkyl, hydroxyC 2-5 alkyl, C 1-5 alkylaminoC 2-5 alkyl, C 1-5 dialkylaminoC 2-5 alkyl, N-amidinopiperidinylC 1-4 alkyl and 4-aminocyclohexylC 0-2 alkyl.