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.

Authors: Christopher Dutton, Mark Haxwell, Hamish McArthur, Richard G. Wax