Peptides having four to six amino acid residues are disclosed that possess biological activity. These peptides constitute short fragments of the peptide HB-107 (MPKEKVFLKIEKMGRNIRN), which itself is a fragment of the antimicrobial protein cecropin B, and exhibit cell stimulatory and migratory properties. The inventive peptides comprise four to six contiguous amino acid residues located between position 11 and 16 of HB107 (MPKEKVFLKIEKMGRNIRN), namely EKMGRN. The disclosed peptides comprise a useful agent for the medical treatment of injury to the skin, such as from diabetic ulcers. The peptides also are effective in preventing and reversing skin surface damage resulting from various environmental insults. Importantly, the therapeutic effects of the peptides manifest at concentrations equal to or greater than those of peptide HB-107, and thus represent a less expensive, more versatile means for developing effective therapies. Methods for the production and use of these peptides are also disclosed.本發明揭示具有生物活性之具有4至6個胺基酸殘基之肽。該等肽構成本身為抗微生物蛋白天蠶蛾素(cecropin)B之片段之肽HB-107(MPKEKVFLKIEKMGRNIRN)之短片段，且展現細胞刺激及遷移性質。本發明肽包括位於HB107(MPKEKVFLKIEKMGRNIRN)之位置11與16之間(即EKMGRN)之4至6個連續胺基酸殘基。該等所揭示之肽包括用於醫學治療例如來自糖尿病潰瘍之皮膚創傷之可用試劑。該等肽亦有效地預防並逆轉源自各種環境傷害之皮膚表面損傷。重要的是，該等肽之治療效應在等於或大於肽HB-107之彼等濃度下呈現，且因此代表用於研發有效療法之較廉價、更通用的方式。本發明亦揭示產生及使用該等肽之方法。
