A cumulative experience examining the effect of natural and synthetic antimicrobial peptides vs. Chlamydia trachomatis.

We tested the activity of 48 structurally diverse antimicrobial peptides against Chlamydia trachomatis, serovar L2. The peptides' activity against C. trachomatis, serovar L2 was measured in 48-h McCoy cell shell vial assays. Peptides of 16-20 amino acids were more active than larger peptides, such as defensins. Beta-sheet protegrins, as well as alpha-helical peptides such as novispirin (G-10) were equally active. Enantiomers were as active as native structures. Moderate-sized circular mini-defensins were less effective against C. trachomatis. Moderate-sized cationic peptides may be useful in microbicide preparations designed to prevent chlamydial infection.