WE CLAIM:
1. An antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof.
2. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 1, wherein said peptide, derivative or analog has enhanced activity against one or a plurality of gram-negative bacteria relative to an equivalent amount of LL-37 peptide comprising amino acid residues 104-140 of the 18-kDa human cationic antimicrobial protein (hCAP18).
3. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 1 or 2 having activity against one or more multidrug-resistant bacteria.
4. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 1 or 2 having activity against a plurality of gram-negative bacteria.
5. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 4 having activity against a bacterium belonging to a genus selected from the group consisting of Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Proteus, Salmonella, Acinetobacter and Klebsiella.
6. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 1 or 2 having activity against a plurality of gram-positive bacteria.
7. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 6 having activity against a bacterium belonging to a genus selected from the group consisting of Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Enterococcus and Streptococcus.
8. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 1 or 2 having activity against one or more fungi of the genus Candida.
9. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the derivative is a fragment or processed form of the antimicrobial peptide fragment.
10. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the derivative is a fusion protein comprising the antimicrobial peptide fragment.
11. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the derivative comprises an amino acid sequence that is reversed relative to the sequence of the antimicrobial peptide fragment.
12. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the derivative is a peptide comprising one or more chemical moieties other than amino acids.
13. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the analog comprises one or more D-amino acids.
14. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said peptide fragment comprises at least six contiguous amino acid residues of an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 1, SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 18, SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 30 and SEQ ID NO: 31.
15. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 14 wherein said peptide fragment comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ED NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO: 2.
16. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 15 wherein said peptide fragment comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
17. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 16 wherein said derivative or analog comprises a sequence selected from SEQ ID Nos: 3-17.
18. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 14 wherein said peptide fragment comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 18 or SEQ ID NO: 19.
19. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 18 wherein said peptide fragment comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 19.
20. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 19 wherein said derivative or analog comprises a sequence selected from SEQ ID Nos: 20-29.
21. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 14 wherein said peptide fragment comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 30 or SEQ ID NO: 31.
22. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 20 wherein said peptide fragment comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31.
23. The antimicrobial peptide fragment of a tammar wallaby milk protein or an antimicrobial derivative or analog thereof according to claim 21 wherein said derivative or analog comprises a sequence selected from SEQ ID Nos: 32-40.
24. A composition comprising an effective amount of an antimicrobial peptide, analog derivative, fusion protein or complex according to any one of claims 1 to 23 to treat a microbial infection in a mammalian host, wherein said peptide, analog or derivative is in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient or diluent.
25. A composition comprising an effective amount of an antimicrobial peptide, analog derivative, fusion protein or complex according to any one of claims 1 to 23 to induce, enhance or stimulate an immune response by a subject to an antigen wherein said peptide, analog or derivative is in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient or diluent.
26. A solid surface coated with or having adsorbed thereto an antimicrobial peptide, analog or derivative according to any one of claims 1 to 23.
27. A medical device coated with or having adsorbed thereto an antimicrobial peptide, analog or derivative thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 23.
28. A method of reducing or preventing microbial growth, said method comprising contacting a microorganism or a surface or composition of matter suspected of comprising a microorganism with a peptide, analog or derivative according to any one of claims 1 to 23 for a time and under conditions sufficient to reduce microbial growth and/or kill a microorganism, thereby reducing or preventing microbial growth.
29. Use of a peptide, analog and/or derivative according to any one of claims 1 to 23 in medicine.
30. Use of a peptide, analog and/or derivative according to any one of claims 1 to 23 in the preparation of a medicament for reducing or preventing microbial growth.
31. A method for prolonging the storage life of a perishable product, said method comprising:
(i) contacting a perishable product with an antimicrobial peptide or a derivative or analog thereof according to any one of claims 1 to 23 for a time and under conditions sufficient to reduce or prevent growth of a microorganism and/or to kill a microorganism; and
(ii) storing the perishable product.
32. The method of claim 32 wherein the perishable product comprises a food product, a pharmaceutical composition or a washing solution.
33. A method of therapeutic or prophylactic treatment of a subject comprising administering an antimicrobial peptide, analog or derivative according to any one of claims 1 to 23 to a subject in need thereof.
34. The method of claim 33 additionally comprising providing or obtaining an antimicrobial peptide, analog and/or derivative according to any one of claims 1 to 23.
35. The method of claim 34 comprising:
(i) determining a subject suffering from an infection or at risk of developing an infection;
(ii) obtaining the antimicrobial peptide, analog or derivative; and
(iii) administering said peptide, analog or derivative to said subject.
36. The method of claim 33 comprising:
(i) identifying a subject suffering from an infection or suspected of suffering from an infection or at risk of developing an infection; and
(ii) recommending administration of the antimicrobial peptide, analog or derivative thereof to the subject.