The present invention provides novel antimicrobial peptides and nucleic acids encoding them, the peptides having an inhibitory or bactericidal/bacteriostatic effect on both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The invention includes methods of treating bacterial infections and preventing the spread of the infections or contamination by the infection. The peptides of the present invention are of particular use as therapeutics to treat Gram-negative infections and are of use in impregnation, covering or coating medical devices or implants or prosthetics prior to introduction into a patient's body.
