Development of a Novel Short Synthetic Antibacterial Peptide Derived from the Swallowtail Butterfly Larvae.

Insects possess biological defense systems that can effectively combat the invasion of external microorganisms and viruses, thereby supporting their survival in diverse environments. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a fast-acting weapon against invading pathogens, including various bacterial or fungal strains. A 37-residue antimicrobial peptide, papiliocin, derived from the swallowtail butterfly larvae, showed significant antimicrobial activities against several human pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains.