Treatment of Endotoxin-Associated Disorders With Cationic Peptides

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to recombinant vector systems and more specifically to the use of these systems for production of antimicrobial cationic peptides.

2. Description of Related Art

In 1981, the self-promoted uptake hypothesis was first proposed to explain the mechanism of action of polycationic antibiotics in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. According to this hypothesis, polycations interact with sites on the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria at which divalent cations cross-bridge adjacent lipopolysaccharide molecules. Due to their higher affinity for these sites, polycations displace the divalent cations and, since the polycations are bulkier than the divalent cations, cause structural perturbations in the outer membrane. These perturbations result in increased outer membrane permeability to compounds such as the .beta.-lactam antibiotic nitrocefin, the eukaryotic non-specific defense protein lysozyme and to hydrophobic substances. By analogy, molecules accessing this pathway are proposed to promote their own uptake.

It has been clearly demonstrated that the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria are semipermeable molecular "sieves" which restrict access of antibiotics and host defense molecules to their targets within the bacterial cell. Thus, cations and polycations which access the self-promoted uptake system are, by virtue of their ability to interact with and break down the outer membrane permeability barrier, capable of increasing the susceptibility of Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria to antibiotics and host defense molecules. Hancock and Wong demonstrated that a broad range of such compounds could overcome the permeability barrier and coined the name "permeabilizers" to describe them (Hancock and Wong, Antimicrob. Agents Chemother., 26:48, 1984). While self-promoted uptake and permeabilizers were first described for P. aeruginosa, they have now been described for a variety of Gram-negative bacteria.

Over the past decade, non-specific defense molecules have been described in many animals, including insects and humans. One subset of these molecules have in common the following features: (a) they are small peptides, usually 15-35 amino acids in length, (b) they contain 4 or more positively charged amino acid residues, either lysines or arginines, and (c) they are found in high abundance in the organisms from which they derive. Several of these molecules have been isolated, amino acid sequenced and described in the patent literature (e.g., cecropins: WO8900199, WO 8805826, WO8604356, WO 8805826; defensins: EP 193351, EP 85250, EP 162161, U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,692, WO 8911291). However, only limited amounts of these peptides can be isolated from the host species. For example, Sawyer, et al., (Infect. Immun. 56:693, 1988) isolated 100-200 mg of rabbit neutrophil defensins 1 and 2 from 10.sup.9 primed peritoneal neutrophils or lipopolysaccharide-elicited alveolar macrophages (i.e., the numbers present in a whole animal).

The gene for human defensin has been cloned and sequenced, but no successful expression has been demonstrated, as yet. Furthermore, production of these peptides using peptide synthesis technology produces peptides in limited amounts and is expensive when scaled up or when many variant peptides must be produced. Also, structural analysis is difficult without specific incorporation of .sup.15 N and .sup.13 C tagged amino acids which is prohibitively expensive using amino acid synthesis technology.

Therefore, a method for producing small cationic peptides, especially polycationic polypeptides, in commercially practicable amounts is needed. This invention addresses such a need by disclosing such a method using recombinant DNA technology in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This process has not been achieved in bacteria until the present invention, due to such difficulties as the susceptibility of these polycationic peptides to bacterial protease degradation.

This invention provides a novel method for producing a cationic peptide by recombinantly producing a fusion peptide which is composed of the cationic peptide and an anionic peptide. The fusion peptide can preferably later be cleaved to release the cationic peptide, which can then be purified. Numerous polycationic peptide structures from nature have been reported and have been either demonstrated or hypothesized to act as outer membrane permeabilizers. The cationic peptides produced by the method of the invention can be used synergistically with classical antibiotics to break down the outer membrane permeability barrier, which is one of the major limiting factors in antibiotic activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Such permeabilizers demonstrate an enormous range of amino acid sequences, lengths, and predicted 3-dimensional structures. Until the present invention, no general method had been described that would allow the production of polycationic peptides in meaningful quantities in bacteria.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a novel cationic peptide which is a fusion between selected cecropin and melittin sequences with additional modifications. This novel peptide possesses enhanced anti-bacterial activity as compared with previously described cationic peptides.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a method of inhibiting an endotoxemia or sepsis associated disorder comprising administering to a subject with the disorder a therapeutically effective amount of a cationic peptide. Preferably, the peptide is CEME or CEMA (SEQ ID NO:23 and 24, respectively) of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of the plasmids used in the invention; A, pGST-peptide; B, pPA-peptide; C, pEZZ-peptide; D, pOprF-peptide.

FIGS. 2A-2F shows a schematic representation of constructs used in fusion protein vectors.

FIG. 3 shows the amino acid sequences of human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP-1), the cecropin A/melittin hybrid peptide (CEME) and (CEMA). Positively charged amino acids are in bold.

FIG. 4 shows a killing curve for P. aeruginosa treated with CEME.

FIG. 5 shows a lysozyme lysis assay for P. aeruginosa treated with polymyxin B (Px), CEME, CEMA, or melittin.

FIG. 6 shows a lysozyme lysis assay for E. cloacae treated with polymyxin B (Px), CEME, CEMA, or melittin.

FIG. 7 shows 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine (NPN) uptake in P. aeruginosa after treatment with polymyxin B (Px), CEME, CEMA, or melittin.

FIG. 8 shows 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine (NPN) uptake in E. cloacae after treatment with polymyxin B (Px), CEME, CEMA, or melittin.

FIG. 9 shows inhibition of dansyl polymyxin (DPx) binding to P. aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by polymyxin B (Px), gentamycin (Gm), CEME, CEMA, or melittin.

FIG. 10 is a double reciprocal plot of the results shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 shows inhibition of DPx to intact P. aeruginosa cells in the presence of Px, Gm, CEME, CEMA, or melittin.

FIG. 12 is a double reciprocal plot of the results shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 13 shows tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels measured 6 hours after the addition of E. coli 0111:B4 LPS and CEME (ME) and CEMA (MA) to macrophage cells. The data is from two separate assays.

FIG. 14 shows tumor necrosis factor (TNF) levels measured 6 hours after the addition of E. coli Bort LPS and CEME (ME) and CEMA (MA) to macrophage cells. The data is from two separate assays.

FIG. 15 shows RAW cell TNF production after addition of E. coli Bort and E. coli 0111:B4 LPS and the effect of the addition of CEMA (MA) and polymyxin B on TNF.

FIG. 16 shows percent mortality in mice in an endotoxic shock model after treatment with CEME or CEMA peptide at 0, 50, 100, 200 .mu.g (2.2, 4.3 and 8.7 mg/kg respectively).

The method of this invention provides production of fusion proteins comprising an anionic peptide and an antimicrobial cationic peptide. Initially, when sequences encoding cationic peptides were placed into expression vectors without an amino terminal sequence encoding an anionic carrier peptide or with just a signal sequence encoding region or pre-pro defensin encoding region (i.e., the regions which result in export in bacteria or eukaryotes, respectively), no peptide was observed despite the presence of measurable mRNA levels in the cytoplasm. This finding indicated that some intracytoplasmic mechanism might somehow be preventing the translation of the mRNA or degrading the translation product. This problem has been solved in the present invention by fusing an anionic carrier peptide to the cationic peptide such that stabilization occurs and breakdown by bacterial proteases is avoided.

As used herein, the term "cationic peptide" refers to a sequence of amino acids from about 5 to about 50 amino acids in length and preferably from about 15 to about 35 amino acids in length. A peptide is "cationic" if it possesses sufficient positively charged amino acids that has a pKa greater than 9.0. Typically, at least four of the amino acid residues of the cationic peptide can be positively charged, for example, lysine or arginine. "Positively charged" refers to the side chains of the amino acid residues which have a net positive charge at pH 7.0. Examples of naturally occurring cationic peptides which can be recombinantly produced according to the invention include defensins, magainins, melittin, and cecropins, and analogs thereof.

According to the method of the present invention, the fusion peptide comprises a "carrier peptide" which is encoded by a nucleotide sequence present in the expression vector. The "carrier peptide" is preferably located at the amino-terminal end of the fusion peptide sequence. The carrier peptide is sufficiently anionic such that the positive charge associated with the cationic peptide is overcome. As a result, the fusion peptide has a net charge which is essentially neutral or even negative. The anionic carrier peptide may be derived from naturally-occurring proteins or can be entirely artificial. Functionally, the carrier peptide stabilizes the cationic peptide and protects it from bacterial proteases. The carrier peptide of the method of the invention may further function to transport the fusion peptide to inclusion bodies, the periplasm, the outer membrane or, preferably, the external environment. Categories of carrier peptide which can be utilized according to the invention include anionic pre-pro peptides and anionic outer membrane peptides. Carrier peptides of the invention specifically include, but are not limited to glutathione-S-transferase (GST) (Smith et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 83:8703 (1986)), protein A from Staphylococcus aureus (Nilsson, et al., EMBO 4:1075 (1985)), two synthetic IgG-binding domains (ZZ) of protein A (Lowenadler, et al., Gene, 58:87, 1987) and outer membrane protein F from Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Duchene, et al., J. Bacteriol, 170:155, 1988). The invention is not limited to the use of these peptides as carriers;

others with similar properties as the carriers described herein are known to those skilled in the art, or can be readily ascertained without undue experimentation.

Techniques for the isolation and purification of the microbially expressed polypeptides of the invention may be by any conventional means such as, for example, preparative chromatographic separations and immunological separations such as those involving the use of monoclonal or polyclonal antibody. The use of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) as the carrier protein, allows purification with a glutathione agarose affinity column. When either Protein A or the ZZ domain from Staphylococcus aureus is used as the carrier protein, single step purification can be done using an IgG-sepharose affinity column, for example. Use of pOprF-peptide, the N-terminal half of the P. aeruginosa outer membrane protein F, is advantageous, since it is the prominent protein band found in outer membrane preparations and therefore can also be purified easily. Alternatively, the fusion peptides can be isolated by use of reagents specifically reactive with the cationic peptide portion of the fusion peptide. Along these lines, monoclonal antibodies which bind an epitope present in the cationic peptide can be utilized, for example, by using standard solid phase affinity purification methodology.

In one embodiment of the invention, a signal sequence is included in the expression vector, specifically located adjacent to the N-terminal end of the carrier protein. The signal sequence allows the fusion protein to be directed toward the membrane. The signal sequence usually consists of a leader of from about 16 to about 29 amino acids, starting with two or three polar residues and continuing with a high content of hydrophobic amino acids; there is otherwise no detectable conservation of sequence known. While the vectors used as examples in the present invention use the protein A signal sequence of Staphylococcus or the OprF signal sequence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, other signal sequences which provide the means for transport of the fusion protein to the cell membrane will be equally effective in carrying out the method of the invention. Such signal sequences are known to those of skill in the art.

According to the invention, it may be advantageous to include a "spacer DNA sequence" in the vectors used in the method of the invention. As used herein, "spacer DNA sequence" refers to any DNA sequence located between the carrier peptide DNA sequence and the cationic peptide DNA sequence of the fusion peptide vector. While not wanting to be bound to a particular theory, it is believed that the spacer DNA sequence, when translated, may create a "hinge-like" region which allows the negatively charged residues of the anionic carrier peptide and the positively charged residues of the subject cationic peptide to interact, thereby inhibiting the positive charge effect and associated detrimental phenomena, such as degradation by proteolytic enzymes.

In addition to stability, the spacer DNA sequence may provide a site for cleavage of the carrier peptide from the peptide after synthesis of the fusion peptide. For example, such spacer DNA sequences include, but are not limited to, protease cleavage sequences, such as that for Factor Xa protease, the methionine, tryptophan and glutamic acid codon sequences, and the pre-pro defensin sequence. Factor Xa is used for proteolytic cleavage at the Factor Xa protease cleavage sequence, while chemical cleavage by cyanogen bromide treatment releases the peptide at the methionine or related codons. In addition, the fused product can be cleaved by insertion of a codon for tryptophan (cleavable by o-iodosobenzoic acid) or glutamic acid (cleavable by Staphylococcus protease). Insertion of such spacer DNA sequences is not a requirement for the production of functional cationic peptides, however, specific sequences will enhance the stability of the fusion peptide. The pre-pro defensin sequence is negatively charged, therefore it is envisioned within the invention that other DNA sequences encoding negatively charged peptides could be used as spacer DNA sequences to stabilize the fusion peptide and prevent degradative events, such as bacterial proteolytic degradation. Spacer DNA sequences, such as the pre-pro defensin amino terminal sequences, are also efficient in the transport of fusion peptide to the outside of the host cell membrane.

In the present invention, the cationic sequences may be inserted into a recombinant "expression vector". The term "expression vector" refers to a plasmid, virus or other vehicle known in the art that has been manipulated by insertion or incorporation of cationic genetic sequences. Such expression vectors of the invention are preferably plasmids which contain a promoter sequence which facilitates the efficient transcription of the inserted genetic sequence in the host. The expression vector typically contains an origin of replication, a promoter, as well as specific genes which allow phenotypic selection of the transformed cells. For example, the expression of the fusion peptide of the invention can be placed under control of E. coli chromosomal DNA comprising a lactose or lac operon which mediates lactose utilization by elaborating the enzyme beta-galactosidase. The lac control system can be induced by IPTG. A plasmid can be constructed to contain the lac Iq repressor gene, permitting repression of the lac promoter until IPTG is added. Other promoter systems known in the art include beta lactamase, lambda promoters, the protein A promoter, and the tryptophan promoter systems. While these are the most commonly used, other microbial promoters, both inducible and constitutive, can be utilized as well. The vector contains a replicon site and control sequences which are derived from species compatible with the host cell. In addition, the vector may carry specific gene(s) which are capable of providing phenotypic selection in transformed cells. For example, the beta-lactamase gene confers ampicillin resistance to those transformed cells containing the vector with the beta-lactamase gene.

Transformation of the host cell with the recombinant DNA may be carried out by conventional techniques well known to those skilled in the art. For example, where the host is prokaryotic, such as E. coli, competent cells which are capable of DNA uptake can be prepared from cells harvested after exponential growth and subsequently treated by the CaCl.sub.2 method using procedures well known in the art. Alternatively, MgCl.sub.2 or RbCl could be used.

In addition to conventional chemical methods of transformation, the plasmid vectors of the invention may be introduced into a host cell by physical means, such as by electroporation or microinjection. Electroporation allows transfer of the vector by high voltage electric impulse, which creates pores in the plasma membrane of the host and is performed according to methods well known in the art. Additionally, cloned DNA can be introduced into host cells by protoplast fusion, using methods well known in the art.

DNA sequences encoding the cationic peptides can be expressed in vivo by DNA transfer into a suitable host cell. "Host cells" of the invention are those in which a vector can be propagated and its DNA expressed. The term also includes any progeny of the subject host cell. It is understood that not all progeny are identical to the parental cell, since there may be mutations that occur during replication. However, such progeny are included when the terms above are used. Preferred host cells of the invention include E. coli, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, although other Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms known in the art can be utilized as long as the expression vectors contain an origin of replication to permit expression in the host.

The cationic peptide DNA sequence used according to the method of the invention can be isolated from an organism or synthesized in the laboratory. Specific DNA sequences encoding the cationic peptide of interest can be obtained by: 1) isolation of a double-stranded DNA sequence from the genomic DNA; 2) chemical manufacture of a DNA sequence to provide the necessary codons for the cationic peptide of interest; and 3) in vitro synthesis of a double-stranded DNA sequence by reverse transcription of mRNA isolated from a donor cell. In the latter case, a double-stranded DNA complement of mRNA is eventually formed which is generally referred to as cDNA.

The synthesis of DNA sequences is frequently the method of choice when the entire sequence of amino acid residues of the desired peptide product is known. In the present invention, the synthesis of a DNA sequence has the advantage of allowing the incorporation of codons which are more likely to be recognized by a bacterial host, thereby permitting high level expression without difficulties in translation. In addition, virtually any peptide can be synthesized, including those encoding natural cationic peptides, variants of the same, or synthetic peptides.

When the entire sequence of the desired peptide is not known, the direct synthesis of DNA sequences is not possible and the method of choice is the formation of cDNA sequences. Among the standard procedures for isolating cDNA sequences of interest is the formation of plasmid or phage containing cDNA libraries which are derived form reverse transcription of mRNA which is abundant in donor cells that have a high level of genetic expression. When used in combination with polymerase chain reaction technology, even rare expression products can be cloned. In those cases where significant portions of the amino acid sequence of the cationic peptide are known, the production of labeled single or double-stranded DNA or RNA probe sequences duplicating a sequence putatively present in the target cDNA may be employed in DNA/DNA hybridization procedures which are carried out on cloned copies of the cDNA which have been denatured into a single stranded form (Jay, et al., Nuc. Acid Res., 11:2325, 1983).

The invention also provides an isolated peptide comprising Sequence ID No. 24, and conservative variations thereof. The peptide, CEMA, contains the first 18 amino acids of cecropin and the last 8 amino acids of melittin. CEMA has been altered by changing the carboxy terminal amino acid sequence of CEME to include two extra lysine residues. This modification unexpectedly created a sequence with two-fold improved antibiotic activity against many bacterial species as well as a substantially enhanced ability to permeabilize bacterial outer membranes and bind to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Alternatively, other positively charged amino acids could be substituted for lysine, as long as their charge is positive at pH 7.0.

Minor modifications of the primary amino acid sequence of the peptide of the invention may result in peptides which have substantially equivalent activity as compared to the specific peptide described herein. Such modifications may be deliberate, as by site-directed mutagenesis, or may be spontaneous. All of the peptides produced by these modifications are included herein as long as the biological activity of the original peptide still exists. Further, deletion of one or more amino acids can also result in a modification of the structure of the resultant molecule without significantly altering its biological activity. This can lead to the development of a smaller active molecule which would also have utility. For example, amino or carboxy terminal amino acids which may not be required for biological activity of the particular peptide can be removed.

The peptide of the invention include peptides which are conservative variations of those peptides specifically exemplified herein. The term "conservative variation" as used herein denotes the replacement of an amino acid residue by another, biologically similar residue. Examples of conservative variations include the substitution of one hydrophobic residue such as isoleucine, valine, leucine or methionine for another, or the substitution of one polar residue for another, such as the substitution of arginine for lysine, glutamic for aspartic acids, or glutamine for asparagine, and the like. The term "conservative variation" also includes the use of a substituted amino acid in place of an unsubstituted parent amino acid provided that antibodies raised to the substituted polypeptide also immunoreact with the unsubstituted polypeptide.

The invention also provides polynucleotides which encode the peptides of the invention. As used herein, "polynucleotide" refers to a polymer of deoxyribonucleotides or ribonucleotides, in the form of a separate fragment or as a component of a larger construct. DNA encoding a peptide of the invention can be assembled from cDNA fragments or from oligonucleotides which provide a synthetic gene which is capable of being expressed in a recombinant transcriptional unit. Polynucleotide sequences of the invention include DNA, RNA and cDNA sequences. A polynucleotide sequence can be deduced from the genetic code, however, the degeneracy of the code must be taken into account. Polynucleotides of the invention include sequences which are degenerate as a result of the genetic code.

The invention also provides a method of inhibiting the growth of bacteria comprising contacting the bacteria with an inhibiting effective amount of the CEMA peptide of the invention. The term "contacting" refers to exposing the bacteria to CEMA so that CEMA can effectively inhibit, kill, or lyse bacteria, bind endotoxin (LPS), or permeabilize gram-negative bacterial outer membranes. Contacting may be in vitro, for example by adding CEMA to a bacterial culture to test for susceptibility of the bacteria to the peptide. Contacting may be in vivo, for example administering CEMA to a subject with a bacterial disorder, such as septic shock. "Inhibiting" or "inhibiting effective amount" refers to the amount of CEMA which is required to cause a bacteriostatic or bacteriocidal effect. Examples of bacteria which may be inhibited include E. coli, P. aeruginosa, E. cloacae, S. typhimurium, and S. aureus. The method of inhibiting the growth of bacteria may further include the addition of antibiotics for combination or synergistic therapy. The appropriate antibiotic administered will typically depend on the susceptibility of the bacteria such as whether the bacteria is gram negative or gram positive, and will be easily discernable by one of skill in the art.

The peptide of the invention can be administered parenterally by injection or by gradual infusion over time. The peptide can be administered intravenously, intraperitoneally, intramuscularly, subcutaneously, intracavity, or transdermally. Preferred methods for delivery of the peptide include orally, by encapsulation in microspheres or proteinoids, by aerosol delivery to the lungs, or transdermally by iontophoresis or transdermal electroporation. Other methods of administration will be known to those skilled in the art.

Preparations for parenteral administration of a peptide of the invention include sterile aqueous or non-aqueous solutions, suspensions, and emulsions. Examples of non-aqueous solvents are propylene glycol, polyethylene glycol, vegetable oils such as olive oil, and injectable organic esters such as ethyl oleate. Aqueous carriers include water, alcoholic/aqueous solutions, emulsions or suspensions, including saline and buffered media. Parenteral vehicles include sodium chloride solution, Ringer's dextrose, dextrose and sodium chloride, lactated Ringer's, or fixed oils. Intravenous vehicles include fluid and nutrient replenishers, electrolyte replenishers (such as those based on Ringer's dextrose), and the like. Preservatives and other additives may also be present such as, for example, antimicrobials, anti-oxidants, chelating agents, and inert gases and the like.

The invention provides a method of treating or ameliorating an immunopathological disorder such as endotoxemia or septic shock (sepsis), or one or more of the symptoms of sepsis comprising administering to a subject displaying symptoms of sepsis or at risk for developing sepsis, a therapeutically effective amount of cationic peptide. The term "ameliorate" refers to a decrease or lessening of the symptoms of the disorder being treated. Such symptoms which may be ameliorated include those associated with a transient increase in the blood level of TNF, such as fever, hypotension, neutropenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation, adult respiratory distress syndrome, shock and multiple organ failure. Patients who require such treatment include those at risk for or those suffering from toxemia, such as endotoxemia resulting from a gram-negative bacterial infection, venom poisoning, or hepatic failure, for example. In addition, patients having a gram-positive bacterial, viral or fungal infection may display symptoms of sepsis and may benefit from such a therapeutic method as described herein. Those patients who are more particularly able to benefit from the method of the invention are those suffering from infection by E. coli, Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia sp., Enterobacter sp., Proteus sp., Haemophilus influenza B, Neisseria meningitidis. Patients at risk for sepsis include those suffering from burns, gunshot wounds, renal or hepatic failure, trauma, immunocompromised (HIV), hematopoietic neoplasias, multiple myeloma, Castleman's disease or cardiac myxoma.

The term "therapeutically effective amount" as used herein for treatment of endotoxemia refers to the amount of cationic peptide used is that of sufficient quantity to decrease the subject's response to LPS and decrease the symptoms of sepsis. The term "therapeutically effective" therefore includes that the amount of cationic peptide sufficient to prevent, and preferably reduce by at least 50%, and more preferably sufficient to reduce by 90%, a clinically significant increase in the plasma level of TNF. The dosage ranges for the administration of cationic peptide are those large enough to produce the desired effect. Generally, the dosage will vary with the age, condition, sex, and extent of the infection with bacteria or other agent as described above, in the patient and can be determined by one skilled in the art. The dosage can be adjusted by the individual physician in the event of any contraindications. In any event, the effectiveness of treatment can be determined by monitoring the level of LPS and TNF in a patient. A decrease in serum LPS and TNF levels should correlate with recovery of the patient.

In addition, patients at risk for or exhibiting the symptoms of sepsis can be treated by the method as described above, further comprising administering, substantially simultaneously with the therapeutic administration of cationic peptide, an inhibitor of TNF, an antibiotic, or both. For example, intervention in the role of TNF in sepsis, either directly or indirectly, such as by use of an anti-TNF antibody and/or a TNF antagonist, can prevent or ameliorate the symptoms of sepsis. Particularly preferred is the use of an anti-TNF antibody as an active ingredient, such as a monoclonal antibody with TNF specificity as described by Tracey, et al. (Nature, 330:662, 1987).

A patient who exhibits the symptoms of sepsis may be treated with an antibiotic in addition to the treatment with cationic peptide. Typical antibiotics include an amino-glycoside, such as gentamycin or a beta-lactam such as penicillin, or cephalosporin. Therefore, a preferred therapeutic method of the invention includes administering a therapeutically effective amount of cationic peptide substantially simultaneously with administration of a bactericidal amount of an antibiotic. Preferably, administration of cationic peptide occurs within about 48 hours and preferably within about 2-8 hours, and most preferably, substantially concurrently with administration of the antibiotic.

In this respect, the bactericidal action of the cationic peptides of the invention and their ability to act cooperatively with other antibiotics in killing bacteria is particularly important. Indeed an important feature of cationic peptides is that they are shown here to neutralize LPS whereas most antibiotics induce LPS release from bacteria as part of the process of killing cells.

The term "bactericidal amount" as used herein refers to an amount sufficient to achieve a bacteria-killing blood concentration in the patient receiving the treatment. The bactericidal amount of antibiotic generally recognized as safe for administration to a human is well known in the art, and as is known in the art, varies with the specific antibiotic and the type of bacterial infection being treated.

The following examples are intended to illustrate but not limit the invention. While they are typical of those that might be used, other procedures known to those skilled in the art may alternatively be utilized.

This plasmid was derived from pGEX-3X (Smith, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., U.S.A., 83:8703, 1986) using recombinant DNA technology. A 500 bp BcII-BamHI fragment from pGEX-3X that included the Factor X cleavage site and part of the glutathione-S-transferase gene was isolated. This fragment was subjected to 35 cycles of PCR (94.degree. C. for 1 minute, 50.degree. C. for 1 minute, 72.degree. C. for 1 minute) in an Ericomp themocyler, using primers at both ends of the fragment. The primer used at the end that had been cleaved with BamHI had a protruding 5' end which resulted in the addition of SphI, HindIII and EcoRI restriction sites after the PCR reaction. The SphI site was flush against the Factor X cleavage site. The resulting PCR fragment was made blunt-ended using Klenow fragment and ligated into the SmaI site of pTZ18U in order to obtain a stable copy. Using BcII and EcoRI, the fragment was cleaved out of pTZ18U and ligated into pGEX-3X that had been cut with EcoRI and partially with BcII. The resulting plasmid, pGEX-KP, now had a SphI-HindIII-EcoRI multiple cloning site, changed from BamHI-SmaI-EcoRI in PGEX-3X.

Synthetic DNAs coding for CEME (Table 1A, B), CEMA (Table I, V, W) and HNP-1 (Table 1C-H) were synthesized as overlapping oligonucleotides which were annealed and ligated into pGEX-KP where HNP-1 is the human neutrophil peptide 1 and CEME is a fusion peptide made from portions of an insect defensin ceropin A and the bee venom peptide, melittin and CEMA is a variant of CEME with two additional lysine residues at the carboxy-terminal end (FIG. 3). However, since these genes are wholly synthetic, virtually any peptide sequence or variant of CEME and HNP-1 can be incorporated (FIG. 2). Positive clones were identified by slot lysis gel electrophoresis and confirmed by DNA sequencing on an Applied Biosystems automated DNA sequencer, using synthetic oligonucleotides as primers (Table 1T-U). Strains containing the recombinant vectors were tested for fusion protein expression. Briefly, cells were grown in Luria broth to OD.sub.600 .apprxeq.1.0. IPTG was added to 0.2 mM to induce expression. Samples of uninduced and induced cells were resuspended in loading buffer and subjected to SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, revealing that the fusion protein constituted as much as 15% of total cellular protein. In the case of HNP-1, the resultant fusion protein was unstable, due to proteolysis. Inclusion of a synthetic, pre-pro defensin-encoding DNA cassette rendered the fusion protein stable to proteolysis.

Cells induced for the production of the fusion protein were harvested and lysed by passage through a French pressure cell (15000 psi). The lysate was fractionated by centrifugation at 3000 xg and the fusion protein was found in either the pellet (as inclusion bodies) or in the supernatant. If found in the soluble supernatent fraction, the fusion protein was then incubated with glutathione-agarose or glutathione-sepharose beads (sulfur linkage, Sigma). The beads bound the fusion protein and were washed with several volumes of buffer to remove unbound protein. The bound fusion protein was then eluted with 0.5% SDS in order to ensure complete recovery. SDS removal was achieved by CHCl.sub.3 MeOH (2:1) extraction or ethanol precipitation of the protein, followed by lyophilization. If found in the insoluble pellet fraction, the protein was isolated by extraction with 3% octyl-polyoxyethylene (O-POE) which removes membrane proteins which are the major contaminating species in inclusion body preparation. All detectable levels of membrane proteins are solubilized with O-POE, leaving a relatively pure sample of inclusion bodies. This sample is extracted with 8M urea to solubilize the inclusion bodies, after which the urea is removed by dialysis. At this stage we attempted to release the peptide using Factor Xa protease cleavage, but found this to be extremely inefficient. Therefore, a synthetic methionine residue codon was placed immediately adjacent to the polycationic peptide sequence to permit chemical cleavage. In this case, after the inclusion body preparation was extracted with O-POE, the inclusion bodies were solubilized directly in 70% formic acid, to which CNBr was added in order to release the polycationic peptide from the fusion protein. In the final invention the methionine residue is always present.

Using a cloned copy of the CEME gene (FIG. 2A), oligonucleotides N+0 (Table 1) were annealed and cloned into the SphI site at the 5' end of the gene (FIG. 2A). The orientation was confirmed by DNA sequencing to ensure that the SaII site was 5' to the Factor Xa recognition site. Using oligonucleotide M (Table 1), a SaII site was inserted into the 3' HindIII site. The resulting construct (FIG. 2B) had a SaII cassette that could be cloned into the SaII site of pRIT5, producing pPA-CEME (FIG. 1B). The orientation of the insert was ascertained using asymmetric restriction endonuclease sites. A cloned copy of the CEMA gene was cloned into the pPA vector as described for CEME.

The HNP-1 gene (FIG. 2C) was altered in a similar manner using oligonucleotides Q+R (for insertion into the 5' SphI site) and oligonucleotide P (for insertion into the 3' EcoRI site). The resulting construct (FIG. 2D) had a BamHI cassette that could be cloned into the BamHI site of pRIT5 to give pPA-HNP1. In order to examine the effects of the pre-pro cartridge in this fusion protein system, the following construct had to be made. Using the SphI sites, the pre-pro cassette (FIG. 2E) was inserted into the 5' end of the HNP-1 gene (FIG. 2C). The 3' end of this construct was changed using oligonucleotide P (Table 1) and the 5' end was altered using oligonucleotide S (Table 1). The resulting construct (FIG. 2F) was cloned into pPA-peptide using BamHI to produce pPA-proHNP1. Again, symmetric restriction endonuclease sites were used to confirm the orientation of the DNA fragment.

The plasmid pPA-CEME was transformed into E. coli DH5.varies.; however, expression attempts in this strain revealed that the heterologous protein was being proteolytically degraded. Therefore, the plasmid was transferred to S. aureus strain RN4220, a restriction modification mutant, (a gift from S. Kahn) using electroporation. Cells were grown in LB media supplemented with 10 .mu.g/ml chloramphenicol to OD.sub.600 .apprxeq.1.0 at which time they were harvested. Culture supernatent was adjusted to pH 7.6 with NaOH and passed over an IgG Sepharose column (Pharmacia) previously equilibrated with TST (50 mM Tris-HCL pH 7.6, 150 mM NaCl+0.05% Tween 20) buffer. The column was washed sequentially with 10 volumes of TST and 5 volumes of 15 mM NH.sub.4 Ac pH 5.0. Finally, the protein was eluted with 0.5M HAc pH 3.4 and directly lyophilized, to give quite a pure preparation. We have also shown that the synthetic gene for HNP-1 (with and without the pre pro cartridge) can be expressed successfully in this system with virtually no proteolytic degradation.

The lyophilized heterologous protein isolated on the IgG Sepharose column was resuspended in 70% formic acid containing 1M CNBr, and the reaction was allowed to proceed for 18 hrs at 25.degree. C. in the dark. The reaction was quenched by diluting the sample to 5% formic acid and lyophilizing it. The sample was resuspended in 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid, loaded onto a ProRPC FPLC column (Pharmacia) and eluted with a 0-40% gradient of acetonitrile+T 0.1% TFA. The CEME peptide eluted between 30-35% resulting in a partially purified sample.

A sample of the partially purified CEME protein was electrophoresed on a 15% acid-urea gel, which separates proteins based on charge and mass (Panyim and Chalkey, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 130:337, 1969). The pH of the buffer is acidic (=pH 5.0) and the polarity is reversed such that proteins migrate to the cathode. Therefore, the small cationic peptides run relatively quickly through the gel and thus can be easily identified. Antibacterial activity was tested as previously described (Hultmark, Eur. J. Biochem., 106:7, 1980). The gel was incubated in Mueller Hinton broth+0.2M NaPO.sub.4 pH 7.4 for 1 hr. It was overlaid with 5 mls of the same media containing 0.6% agar and .apprxeq.10.sup.5 E. coli strain DC2, and then again with 5 ml of the same media containing only 0.6% agar. The overlaid gel was incubated overnight at 37.degree. C. which resulted in zones of clearing corresponding to the migration site of melittin (positive control) and the CEME produced in this study. Melittin is used as a positive control due to its antibacterial activity and similarity in size and PI values.

The antimicrobial activity of CEME was also quantitated using a killing assay in which the peptide was incubated with 10.sup.6 cells/ml of P. aeruginosa for 20-60 min before the cells were plated for viability (FIG. 4). The results showed that 2.5 .mu.g/ml (0.9 .mu.M) of CEME reduced the viable count of P. aeruginosa by three log orders in 20 minutes.

The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of CEME, CEMA and melittin were determined for a number of different bacteria (Table 2). Briefly, cells were grown overnight at 37.degree. C. in LB-S (Luria broth without any salt supplement) and diluted one in 10,000 in the same medium to give concentrations of about 10.sup.4 to 10.sup.5 CFU/ml. The broth dilutions were set up in a 96 well microtiter plate by putting 200 .mu.l of LB-S containing the initial concentration of antibiotic or compound in column 1 and 100 .mu.l of the same medium in columns 2-12. The compounds were diluted by taking 100 .mu.l of broth from column 1 and mixing it with column 2, resulting in a one in two dilution. This was continued to column 10. Finally, 10 .mu.l of bacteria were pipetted into columns 1-11, and the plates incubated overnight at 37.degree. C. The next day the plates were scored for growth in the wells, and the MIC determined.

Generally, CEME and CEMA had similar MIC values which were consistently lower than melittin. The MICs of the peptides were usually higher than those of polymyxin B, gentamicin (an aminoglycoside) and ceftazidime (a .beta.-lactam). Both antibiotic sensitive strains (H188 and DC2) were two- to four-fold more sensitive to the cationic peptides as compared to their parental strains. Surprisingly, the mutant SC9252 which showed an increased resistance to polymyxin B, ceftazidime, and to a lesser extent gentamicin, was not resistant to the cationic peptides. The S. typhimurium defensin sensitive strain (C590) was also four-fold more sensitive to CEME, CEMA and polymyxin B, and two-fold more sensitive to gentamicin and melittin. The fact that the MIC of the .beta.-lactam ceftazidime was unchanged in this strain suggested that the mutation may be affecting the self-promoted uptake pathway, possibly by a change in the sites of initial antibiotic contact on the surface of the outer membrane. The cationic peptides were also equally active against an E. cloacae clinical isolate strain (218S) and its .beta.-lactam resistant mutant (218R1, a .beta.-lactamase overproducer). The MIC values of the peptides were slightly higher for S. aureus but given their much higher molecular weight they are in fact more active than most compounds on a molar basis.

In addition, the MIC values for CE (the first 8 amino acid residues of CEMA) and for MA (the carboxy terminal 20 amino acids of CEMA) were all greater than 64 ug/ml in the same assay when tested on P. aeruginosa, E. coli, S. aureus and Candida albicans. Consequently, although CEMA is an effective antimicrobial agent, the individual fragments have no antimicrobial (or anti-fungal) activity.

Since divalent cations are known to stabilize the outer membranes of Gram negative bacteria by bridging adjacent lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecules, they are able to increase the MIC values of compounds that interact with the LPS. The MIC assay was repeated in the presence of 5 mM Mg.sup.++ and 80 mM Na.sup.+ to determine whether or not this effect applied to the cationic peptides (Table 3). The results showed that the antibacterial activities of all three peptides were dramatically inhibited by the presence of Mg.sup.++ and only minimally inhibited by Na.sup.+. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the initial step in the antibacterial mechanism of cationic peptides is an association with the negatively charged sites on LPS molecules.

The ability of the cationic peptides to work synergystically was examined by determining the MIC values for some commonly used antibiotics in the presence of sub-MIC levels of cationic peptides (Table 4). Generally, the peptides had very little effect on the MIC of antibiotics that are proposed to be taken up through porins (ceftazidime, imipenem, and tetracycline), although CEMA at 1/2 MIC levels reduced their MICs 2-fold. This may be due to the high membrane permeabilizing activity of CEMA (see below). However, the peptides did lower the MIC of polymyxin B, possibly due to the fact that they are all taken up by the same pathway and are therefore aiding each other's uptake. Of interest is the influence that melittin has on the MIC of polymyxin B, given the weak membrane permeabilizing activity of melittin. This may suggest that polymyxin B is disrupting the membrane, thus allowing melittin access to its target site rather than vice versa. The fact that this MIC is lower than those in the presence of CEME and CEMA may suggest that melittin is much more active at its target site than the other two peptides, and that the rate limiting step in its antibacterial activity is its transport across the outer membrane.

The synthetic genes for the peptides CEME and CEMA were cloned separately into the BamHI-HindIII sites of the plasmid pEZZ18 (Pharmacia) (FIG. 1C). This allowed directional insertion to occur. Clones were selected using blue/white selection by growth on IPTG-XGal media in a lac-E. coli strain. Correct clones were identified by restriction analysis of plasmid DNA, which was then transformed into the E. coli strain HB101. This strain was recommended by Pharmacia, and has been shown previously (Lowenadler, et al., Gene, 58:87, 1987), to allow the release of fusion protein into the external medium.

Cells harboring the clones were grown to log-phase and harvested. Whole cell lysates were electrophoresed on an SDS polyacrylamide gel, and the proteins were transferred to nitrocellulose. Using antisera specific to the peptides, the fusion proteins were identified.

The SaII fragment used in construction of the pPA-CEME, was utilized here. pOprF DNA (FIG. 1D) was isolated and digested with SaII to produce a linear fragment, into which the CEME cassette was ligated. Clones were analyzed at the DNA level to check for the correct orientation of the CEME DNA, using asymmetric restriction endonuclease sites. Analysis was then carried out at the protein level.

Cells were grown in selection media containing 1M IPTG. Whole cell lysates were analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and subjected to western blotting. Antisera used were (a) a polyclonal serum specific for CEME, and (b) a mAb for OprF. Results indicated both epitopes are expressed on the same molecule.

Membrane permeabilization by polycationic compounds was measured in two different assays. The first assay measured membrane disruption by the ability of lysozyme to reach the periplasm and cause cell lysis. This assay was performed on two different organisms in order to demonstrate that it is a general phenomenon. The uptake of lysozyme into whole cells due to membrane permeabilization by various compounds was previously described in Hancock, et al., Antimicrobial Agents and Chemo., 19:777, 1981. Overnight cultures of P. aeruginosa H309 or E. cloacae 218R1 grown in LB-S were diluted 1 in 50 in fresh medium and grown to an OD.sub.600 =0.5-0.6. The cells were harvested in a Silencer H-103N clinical centrifuge at 1800 g for 10 min, washed once with one volume of assay buffer (5 mM HEPES pH 7.2, 5 mM KCN), and resuspended in the same buffer to an OD.sub.600 of 0.5. Assays consisted of 600 .mu.l of cells with 50 .mu.g/ml of chicken egg white lysozyme and varying concentrations of cationic compounds. Cell lysis was measured as a decrease in the OD.sub.600 in a Perkin-Elmer dual beam spectrophotometer. Parallel experiments performed without lysozyme enabled the measurement of the lytic activity of the compounds themselves. To test whether or not permeability to lysozyme could be inhibited by divalent cations, various concentrations of MgCl.sub.2 were added to the assay after the addition of lysozyme and before the addition of the test compound.

The results show that CEMA was a stronger permeabilizer for lysozyme than polymyxin B, as was CEME, albeit only at lower concentrations (FIGS. 5 and 6). With increased concentrations of peptide, cell lysis in the absence of lysozyme occurred, especially with CEME and melittin (P. aeruginosa data only). When this was taken into consideration, melittin did not appear to be a good permeabilizer as compared to the other peptides, yet it is still 5- to 10- fold better than gentamicin.

The second assay determined membrane permeability by the ability of 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine (NPN), a small fluorescent probe, to insert itself into the membrane. Normally, very little NPN can penetrate the outer membrane, but in the presence of a membrane permeabilizer it can insert into the hydrophobic membrane resulting in an increase in fluorescence (FIGS. 7 and 8). This N-phenylnaphthylamine uptake assay was previously described by Loh, et al., Antimicrobial Agents and Chemo., 26:546, 1984. Cells were prepared exactly the same as for the lysozyme lysis assay. 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine (NPN) was dissolved in acetone at a concentration of 500 .mu.M. NPN fluorescence was measured in a Perkin-Elmer 650-10S fluorescent spectrophotometer using excitation and emission wavelengths set to 350 nm and 420 nm respectively, with slit widths of 5 nm. The assay was standardized by adding 20 .mu.l of NPN (final concentration of 10 .mu.M) and 10 .mu.l of 0.64 mg/ml of polymyxin B (final concentration of 6.4 .mu.g/ml) into 1 ml of cells, and adjusting the resulting fluorescence to read 90% deflection (90 arbitrary units). Various compounds were tested by adding 10 .mu.l of different concentrations to a cuvette containing 1 ml of cells and 10 .mu.M NPN. Permeabilizing activity was designated as the total fluorescence minus the fluorescence due to NPN alone. Following the fluorescence measurement, the OD.sub.600 of the cells was taken to ensure no significant cell lysis had occurred. Control experiments showed that neither acetone nor test compound alone resulted in an increase in fluorescence in the absence of NPN.

In these experiments, polymyxin B and CEMA were found to be equally active in opening up the membrane to NPN, while CEME and melittin (for P. aeruginosa) were less active. In summary, the cationic peptides were found to be strong permeabilizers of the outer membrane, which undoubtedly contributes to their mechanism of antibacterial activity.

The MIC assays in the presence of divalent cations indicated that the cationic peptides associated with the negatively charged sites on the LPS. To further demonstrate this quantitatively, dansyl polymyxin (DPx) displacement assays were performed using purified P. aeruginosa LPS. DPx is a derivative of polymyxin that fluoresces strongly when bound to LPS, but weakly when free in solution. In this assay, DPx was incubated with LPS to saturate the binding sites and then, while polycationic compounds are titrated into the reaction, displacement of the DPx was monitored by the decrease in fluorescence (FIG. 9). P. aeruginosa LPS was isolated as previously described (Darveau, et al., J. of Bacteriology, 155:831, 1983) Dansyl polymyxin was synthesized as described by Schindler, et al., B. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemo, 8:95, 1975.

Briefly, 40 mgs of polymyxin B and 10 mgs of dansyl chloride were mixed in 2 mls of 60 mM NaHCO.sub.3 and 40% acetone and incubated in the dark for 90 minutes. The unreacted dansyl chloride was separated from the dansyl polymyxin by gel filtration on a Sephadex G-50 column. The fractions containing dansyl polymyxin were extracted with 1/2 volume of n-butanol and then evaporated to dryness in a dessicator at 37.degree. C. The dansyl polymyxin was resuspended in 5 mM Hepes pH 7.0, quantitated by dinitrophenylation and stored in aliquots at -20.degree. C.

The method of Moore, et al., (Antimicrobial Agents and Chemo., 29:496, 1987), was used to test how much DPx was needed to saturate the binding sties on LPS. Briefly, 5 .mu.l samples of 100 .mu.M DPx were titrated sequentially into 1 ml of 3 .mu.g/ml of LPS until a maximum fluorescence was reached. The fluorescence was measured in a Perkin-Elmer 650-10S fluorescence spectrophotometer with an excitation wavelength of 340 nm and an emission wavelength of 485 nm using slit widths of 5 nm. Final concentration of DPx giving 90-100% maximum fluorescence (2.5 .mu.M) was chosen and used in all subsequent experiments. For the binding inhibition assays (Moore, et al., Antimicrobial Agents and Chemo., 29:496, 1987), 2.5 .mu.M DPx was added to 3 .mu.g/ml of H103 LPS in 5 mM HEPES pH 7.2. The test compounds were added 5 .mu.l at a time and the decrease in fluorescence due to displacement of the DPx from the LPS was recorded. The addition of the compound was continued until it resulted in only a small ((5%) decrease in fluorescence. The data was plotted as 1-{(maximum fluorescence-test fluorescence)/maximum fluorescence} versus the compound concentration (I). To determine the relative affinities of the compounds for the binding sites on LPS, a double reciprocal plot was made, plotting 1/(maximum fluorescence-test fluorescence)/maximum fluorescence versus 1/I. The calculated x-intercept was equivalent to -1/I.sub.50, where I.sub.50 equals the concentration of the compound which displaces 50% of the DPx bound to LPS. All experiments were performed a minimum of three times.

For DPx binding inhibition assays using whole cells instead of purified LPS, H309 cells were prepared the same way as for the lysozyme lysis assay. The assay consisted of 10 .mu.l of cells at an OD.sub.600 of 0.5, 990 .mu.l of 5 mM HEPES pH 7.2 and 5 mM KCN, and the concentration of DPx that gave 90-100% binding saturation. This concentration varied from day to day but usually was between 2.5 .mu.M and 3.5 .mu.M. Compounds were titrated in, and I.sub.50 values were determined as described above.

The data showed that the cationic peptides displaced DPx at concentrations comparable to that of polymyxin B but much higher than that of gentamicin, thus indicating a strong affinity for the LPS. When the data was plotted as a double reciprocal plot (FIG. 10), the X-intercept provided a value that is equal to -1/I.sub.50. I.sub.50 is a measure of the affinity of a compound for LPS and is equal to the concentration of compound at which 50% maximal DPx displacement occurred (Table 5). The data indicated that CEMA had a higher affinity for LPS than polymyxin B (on a .mu.M basis) with CEME and melittin having slightly lower affinities.

To determine whether or not these affinities are biologically relevant, the experiments were repeated with intact P. aeruginosa cells (FIGS. 11 and 12). The I.sub.50 values from these experiments (Table 5) showed that all three cationic peptides were better at displacing DPx from whole cells than polymyxin B. This is interesting given that only CEMA (and CEME at low concentrations) was shown to be a better membrane permeabilizer than polymyxin B. The difference between these LPS binding affinities and subsequent membrane permeabilizing activities may be indicative of the level of competing divalent cations or the conformation that the peptides adopt once they interact with the LPS.

The effect of CEME and CEMA peptides on LPS-induced TNF in macrophages was examined. RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were grown by seeding 10.sup.6 cells into a 162 cm.sup.2 cell culture flask and incubated at 37.degree. C., 5% CO.sub.2 for 1 week. RAW cell media (Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium with Hepes buffer 450 ml; 2.4 mM L-glutamine 3 ml (400 mM); Pen/Strep 3 ml (10.sup.4 U/ml of Pen, 1 mg/ml strep); and 10% heat inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS) 50 ml) was then completely removed from flasks. 10 mls of cell dissociation solution (Sigma) was added to each flask and incubated at 37.degree. C. for 10 minutes. Cells were removed from flasks, diluted in RAW cell media and centrifuged for 6 minutes. The cell pellet was resuspended in 5 ml of media/flask used. 100 .mu.l cell suspension was removed and added to 400 .mu.l of trypan blue and cells were counted using a hemocytometer. The cell suspension was diluted to 1.times.10.sup.6 cells/ml and 1 ml of suspension was added per well of a 24 well plate. The 24 well plates were incubated at 37.degree. C., 5% CO.sub.2 overnight for use in the assay.

After an overnight incubation, the media was aspirated from all the wells. 100 .mu.l of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was added at 100 ng/100 .mu.l. CEME or CEMA was added at the desired concentration/100 .mu.l to specified wells. RAW cell media was added to all the wells so they all had a final volume of 1 ml. The plates were then incubated for six hours at 37.degree. C., 5% CO.sub.2. The supernatant was then removed from the wells and stored overnight at 4.degree. C. For those wells in which whole bacteria were added directly to the wells, the supernatant was centrifuged in 0.2.mu.m filter eppendorf tubes for 5 minutes.

The supernatants were then used in cell cytotoxic L929 assay. The samples were transferred to 96 well plates. 50 .mu.l of TNF media was added to all the wells in all the plates except to those wells in the first row. 10 .mu.l of murine TNF standard (20 ng/ml) and 90 .mu.l of TNF media was added in duplicate to the plate and diluted 1:2 down the plate to the second to last row. Test samples (75 .mu.l), comprising of the supernatants from the RAW cell assays, were added to separate rows in duplicate and diluted 1:3 to the second to last rows.

TNF-sensitive L929 mouse fibroblast cells were grown by seeding 10.sup.6 cells into a 162 cm.sup.2 cell culture flask and left to grow for 1 week. L929 cells were removed from the flask with 10 mls of trypsin-EDTA/flask and incubated 3-5 minutes. Cell suspension was diluted and centrifuged for 6 minutes. The pellet was resuspended in 5 mls of fresh L929 media/flask and counted (same as RAW cells). Cell suspension was diluted to 10.sup.6 cells/ml. 100 .mu.l was used to inoculate each well of the 96 well plates with the supernatants. (L929 Growth Media was the same as RAW cell media except instead of FBS, 50 mls of 10% heat inactivated horse serum was utilized; TNF Assay Media was the same as RAW cell media except 4 .mu.g/ml Actinomycin D was added.)

The plates were incubated at 37.degree. C. at 5% CO.sub.2 for 2 days. The media was then aspirated and replaced with 100 .mu.l of the dye MTT (0.5 mg/ml) in modified Eagle Medium without phenol red. The plates were then incubated at 37.degree. C. at 5% CO.sub.2 for 3 hours. The dye was then removed and replaced with 100 .mu.l of absolute ethanol. The plates were left at room temperature for 10-15 minutes to dissolve the formazan dye crystals.

The plates were read at 570 nm in a ELISA plate reader with 690 nm reference filter. One unit of TNF activity is defined as the amount required to kill 50% of the L929 cells. The TNF level in Units per ml therefore was the reciprocal of the dilution which led to a 50% killing of L929 cells.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show levels of TNF (U/ml) after a 6 hour treatment with increasing amounts (0, 2, 5, 10,20, or 50 .mu.g) of either CEME (ME) or CEMA (MA) peptide and 100 ng of LPS. TNF levels were measured six hours after the addition of E. coli 0111:B4 or E. coli Bort LPS (FIGS. 13 and 14 respectively). The data shows the results of 2 separate experiments and indicate that both peptides efficiently reduce the level of LPS-induced TNF in the culture with two distinct LPS samples at concentrations of peptides as low as 5.mu.g/ml.

In intact cell induction experiments, 10.sup.6 E. coli Bort cells induced 11,967-14,805 Units of TNF per ml in RAW cells. Addition of 20 .mu.g of CEMA resulted in a 96% or 97% reduction in TNF levels induced by 10.sup.6 E. coli Bort cells in two independent experiments.

The RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line was grown in tissue culture to 10.sup.6 cell per ml at 37.degree. C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from P. aeruginosa strain H103 or E. coli were added at concentrations between 0 and 100 .mu.g/ml with or without 1.2-2.4 .mu.g/ml of CEME, and the cells further incubated for 6 hours at 37.degree. C. in a 5% CO.sub.2 incubator. Supernatants were then collected and assayed for TNF activity on the TNF-sensitive L929 mouse fibroblast cell line. TNF activity was defined as the reciprocal of the dilution required to produce 50% cytotoxicity relative to control cells (Table 6).

These data in Table 6 demonstrate that CEME at the MIC (1.2-2.4 .mu.g/ml) inhibited TNF production by LPS from more than one species of bacteria, in a dose-dependent fashion by as much as 91%.

In order to determine how rapidly CEMA reduced LPS-induced TNF production, E. coli 0111:B4 or Bort LPS was added at time 0 to RAW macrophages. CEMA or Polymyxin B was added at time 0, 30 and 60 minutes. Levels of TNF were measured after 6 hours. The results are shown in FIG. 15. (MA-B, CEMA antagonizing the effects of Bort LPS, PM-B, Polymyxin B with Bort LPS; MA-O, CEMA with 0111:B4 LPS, PM-O, Polymyxin B with 0111:B4 LPS.) The results show that CEMA inhibited TNF induction by LPS in a similar manner to polymyxin B. Furthermore, CEMA was effective at reducing the ability of LPS to induce TNF in RAW cell lines even when added 60 minutes after the addition of LPS. CEMA demonstrated a distinct and reproducible advantage over polymyxin B when added 60 minutes after the addition of LPS. To confirm that CEMA was acting on LPS rather than directly upon macrophage cell lines, 20 .mu.g of CEMA was added to RAW cells and incubated for 60 minutes prior to aspiration of the medium and washing the cells 3 times with HBSS (Hanks Buffered Salt Solution). Addition of 10 ng or 100 ng of LPS to the washed RAW cells resulted in a high level of TNF induction (14,000-20,000 Units of TNF per ml), suggesting that the CEMA had not permanently depressed the ability of RAW cells to induce TNF in response to LPS addition. In contrast, the aspirated medium containing CEMA could depress the ability of fresh RAW cells to induce TNF in response to 10 ng or 100 ng of E. coli Bort LPS by 98.5% and 75% respectively. Up to 50 .mu.g of CEMA caused no apparent decrease in RAW cell viability as judged by Trypan blue exclusion.

The ability of CEME and CEMA to protect against LPS-induced endotoxemia was assessed in vivo. Mice (8-10 weeks old) were injected intraperitoneally with 20 .mu.g D-galactosamine (Dgal) to sensitize them to LPS according to the mode of Galanos (Galanos, et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA, 76:5939-5943, 1979), followed by 0, 50, 100, or 200 .mu.g CEME or CEMA in 100 .mu.l. Immediately afterwards LPS (10 or 20 .mu.g) in 100 .mu.l was injected. The mice were observed at 24 and 48 hours after injections and survivors noted.

All mice given 200 .mu.g of CEME or CEMA alone (i.e., 8.7 mg/kg) survived suggesting that such a dose was not toxic to the animals. CEME had a small protective effect (29%) when mice were challenged with a high dose (20 .mu.g) of endotoxin (FIG. 16). In contrast, when LPS and CEME were incubated together for 45 minutes at 37.degree. C. and then injected simultaneously, CEME appeared to be completely protective. With a challenge dose of 10 .mu.g of E. coli 0111:B4 LPS, 100% of control mice (i.e., no cationic peptide) were killed. When 50, 100, and 200 .mu.g of CEME were given to mice, 37%, 40% and 45% survival (i.e., 63%, 60% and 55% mortality) respectively was recorded (TABLE 8, FIG. 16). Consistent with its improved ability to bind LPS, CEMA was more protective resulting in 60%, 75%, and 78% survival when given to mice at doses of 50 .mu.g, 100 .mu.g, and 200 .mu.g respectively. To demonstrate that this was associated with a reduction in TNF levels, 10 .mu.g of LPS and 20 mg of Dgal were injected at time 0. Thirty minutes later, the mice were sacrificed and the blood was taken and centrifuged to separate the serum which was used in the cell cytotoxic L929 assay. Results showed the blood levels of TNF ranged from 69-262 U/ml. Mice injected with 200 .mu.g CEMA along with LPS and Dgal showed blood levels of TNF to be 11-16 U/ml at 30 minutes (the CEMA results were comparable to control mice not injected with anything). Such suppression of TNF levels in the animals injected with Dgal, CEMA, and LPS was maintained for up to 2 hours. These results suggest that CEME and, particularly, CEMA have potential in therapy against endotoxin-associated disorders.

Although the invention has been described with reference to the presently preferred embodiment, it should be understood that various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is limited only by the following claims.