KR-12, the minimal antibacterial peptide of human cathelicidin LL-37: Discovery, engineering and applications

This poster will provide a summary on the recent research results on KR-12, a 12-residuecationic antimicrobial peptide derived from human cathelicidin LL-37. KR-12 has been shown to have a selective toxic effect on bacteria but not on human cells. The positive charges of KR-12 allow it to interact with negatively charged bacterial membranes. Moreover, KR-12 has been found to possess anti-inflammatory properties useful for development of novel wound dressings. KR-12 has been shown to promote the osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow stem cells by stimulating BMP/SMAD signaling. In addition, different forms of KR-12 have been designed, including conjugated hybrids, lipidated analogs, and cyclic peptides. Finally, KR-12 has been immobilized on various surfaces to prevent biofilm formation. In conclusion, KR-12 has shown promise for various applications in medicine, food, animal husbandry, agriculture, and aquaculture.