Has bactericidal activity against E.coli ATCC 29522 and S.aureus. Inhibits growth of S.marcescens and B.cereus ATCC 14579. A synthetic peptide has antibacterial activity against E.coli ATCC 29522 (MIC=8 ug/ml), S.aureus (MIC=64 ug/ml), S.marcescens (MIC=32 ug/ml), B.cereus ATCC 14579 (MIC=64 ug/ml), B.subtilis (MIC=32 ug/ml), L.plantarum ATCC 8014 (MIC=32 ug/ml), B.flexus (MIC=32 ug/ml), S.enteritidis ATCC 13076 (MIC=4 ug/ml), Enterobacter spp (MIC=32 ug/ml), B.anthracis (MIC=128 ug/ml), B.licheniformis (MIC>128 ug/ml) and L.lactis ATCC 11454 (MIC>128 ug/ml). Active between pH 2 and 12. Active between 37 and 90 degrees Celsius. Activity is reduced at 100 degrees Celsius and absent at 110 degrees Celsius. Activity is unaffected by storage at -20 degrees Celsius. A synthetic peptide has no antibacterial activity against S.agalactiae ATCC 12386, S.epidermidis, P.aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant S.aureus (MRSA).