Lysine-enriched cecropin-mellitin antimicrobial peptides with enhanced selectivity.

Lysine-enriched analogs of the cecropin-mellitin hybrid peptide, CA(1-7) M(2-9) (designated CM15), designed with optimized amphipathicity, retained antimicrobial activities similar to that of wild-type CM15 and had substantially reduced levels of hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity toward cultured macrophages, resulting in enhanced selectivity. These lysine-enriched analogs provide templates for improved CM15 peptide or peptidomimetic antibiotics.