Addressing concerns regarding super-resistant diseases which even the strongest medicines cannot touch, this peptide-packed technology is a remedy for the post-antibiotic age

There is an urgent need to address the post-antibiotic era: antibiotic resistance is projected as one of the greatest threats to human health in the future and hence alternatives are being explored to combat resistance. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have shown great promise as their use leads bacteria to develop no or little resistance.

The University of Manchester have used sequence optimisation and selectivity optimisation of margins to develop short, non-natural peptides that are antimicrobial.

These peptides are novel cationic amphiphilic peptides containing the simple sequence repeats G(IIKK)nI-NH2 and possess both bactericidal and anti-fungal activity.

The team have achieved log reduction data between 3 and 6 log reductions with 30 seconds contact time achieved. Efficacy has been shown with both log kill and MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) data against a range of bacterial and yeast strains.

Singular peptides have found to be efficacious against individual pathogens, and broad spectrum efficacy can be enhanced using blends of individual peptides. Peptides have activity against bacterial biofilms including oral biofilms and are short (10-20 amino acids), stable and compatible with a range of potential formulations.

Synthesis is easily tailored to balance efficacy and toxicity by carefully modulating charge. The peptides are not haemolytic and non-toxic to cellular constituents of human epidermis, particularly keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts.

The technology’s patent has been granted in the US and Europe, and the team are actively seeking partners to further develop this technology.

 

For more information, please contact:

Sonia Nikolovski
sonia.nikolovski@uominnovationfactory.com
+44 (0)161 606 7297 (office)*
+44 (0)7760 342 765 (mobile)

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