Antimicrobial agents and antibiotics based on supramolecular peptides

We propose to develop new topical antimicrobial compounds as a precursor to a system of antibiotics based on natural antimicrobial peptides that serve in the innate immune system of multicellular organisms. Our strategy is to enhance the efficacy of natural peptides via polyvalency, linking monomeric units to create supramolecular complexes. Existing peptides have utility as topical antimicrobials, and EDS proposes new applications of these in formulating fluids for oral cavity disinfection and protection of field personnel. The main thrust of this Phase I project is to evaluate existing and new compounds against penicillin resistant B. subtilis strains, which are related to B. anthracis, as well as microbes that infect the oral cavity, including anaerobes. Our strategy has potential to identify agents for multidrug resistant gram negative infections including pathogenic E. coli strains as well. These targets model infectious agents that are militarily relevant.