title: Factors determining the efficacy of alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides.
abstract: A database of alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides (AMP) was established and their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were compared with their physiochemical characteristics in an attempt to establish those features that determine efficacy. There is no significant difference in AMP sensitivity between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria but fungi did require higher concentrations to achieve the same degree of growth inhibition. For antibacterial peptides there appears to be a positive correlation between MIC and hydrophobic arc size and a negative correlation between MIC and net charge.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic and Investigative Science, University of Central Lancashire, Preston, PR1 2HE, UK.
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dennison
authors.forename: Frederick
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Phoenix
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019992:Databases as Topic; D015195:Drug Design; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D017433:Protein Structure, Secondary; D012044:Regression Analysis
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides