| Abstract |
Antimicrobial peptides represent new hope in the fight against resistant pathogenic bacteria. Several novel peptides possessing potent antimicrobial activities were recently discovered in our laboratory. In the immune system of the larvae of blowfly Lucilia sericata, which are utilized in the medicinal process known as a maggot therapy, we have identified novel insect defensin named lucifensin. This is a peptide of 40 amino acid residues and three intramolecular disulfide bridges. Lucifensin shows high antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. The study will comprise the synthesis of lucifensin and some human defensins by combining the method of solid phase peptide synthesis and “native chemical ligation”, which is based on the presence of cysteine residues in peptide sequence. The study will also involve biophysical methods for structural studies and biological assays. |
