1st Edition

Peptide Antibiotics Discovery Modes Of Action And Applications

    This reference summarizes the latest research on the structure, function, and design of synthetic and natural peptide antibiotics, describing practical applications of these compounds in food preservation and packaging, and in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases by direct anti-bacterial action and as part of the adaptive immune response.

    Peptide Antibiotics discusses these unique compounds and their many and exciting applications, including:

  • the distribution and classification of diverse antimicrobial peptides throughout nature
  • the role in host defense of mucosal surface peptide antibiotics such as defensins and cathepsins
  • the biosynthesis of lanthionine-containing antibiotics including nisin, epidermin, and mersacidin
  • the genetic basis determining the production of bacterial peptide antibiotics
  • the potential commercial use of magainin, nisin, and lacticin peptides as anti-infective agents
  • the use of nisin as a commercial food preservative
    With contributions from 19 world-renowned experts in the field, Peptide Antibiotics is an indispensable source of information for pharmaceutical scientists, medicinal and organic chemists and biochemists, microbiologists, infectious disease specialists, molecular biologists, and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in these disciplines.
  • Introduction to the Peptide Antibiotics
    Harry W. Taber

    Sources of Antimicrobial Peptides

    Chemistry and Applications of Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides
    David Andreu and Luis Rivas

    Lanthionine-Containing Bacterial Peptides
    Ulrike Pag and Hans-Georg Sahl

    Unmodified Peptide-Bacteriocins (Class II) Produced by Lactic Acid Bacteria
    Ingolf F. Nes, Helge Holo, Gunnar Fimland, Håvard Hildeng Hauge, and Jon Nissen-Meyer

    Insect Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides
    Charles Hetru, Jules A. Hoffmann, and Robert E. W. Hancock

    Mammalian Antimicrobial Peptides
    Charles L. Bevins and Gill Diamond

    Potential Applications of Peptides

    Exploitation of Lantibiotic Peptides for Food and Medical Uses
    Máire P. Ryan, Colin Hill, and R. Paul Ross

    Amphibian Antimicrobial Peptides
    Michael A. Zasloff

    Index

    Biography

    Christopher J. Dutton is Senior Principal Scientist, Pfizer Global Research and Development, Sandwich, Kent, England. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and a member of the Society for Medicines Research. Dr. Dutton received the Ph.D. degree (1983) from Cambridge University, England. Mark A. Haxell is Licensing Coordinator, Pfizer Global Research and Development, Sandwich, Kent, England. A member of the Licensing Executives Society, he received the Ph.D. degree (1983) in microbiology from Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, England. Hamish A. I. McArthur is Assistant Director, Bioprocess Research and Development, Pfizer Global Research, Groton, Connecticut. A member of the Society for General Microbiology and the American Society for Microbiology, Dr. McArthur received the Ph.D. degree (1975) in microbial biochemistry from St. John's College, University of Cambridge, England. Richard G. Wax is Principal Research Investigator, Pfizer Global Research, Groton, Connecticut. He is a member of the American Society for Microbiology and the Society for Industrial Microbiology. Dr. Wax received the Ph.D. degree (1963) in biophysics from the Pennsylvania State University, University Park.