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Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) are novel candidates for drug development. Here we describe design of six short and potent CAMPs (SA-1 to SA-6) based on a minimalist template of 12 residues H+HHG+HH+HH+NH2 (where H: hydrophobic amino acid and +: charged hydrophilic amino acid). Designed peptides exhibit good antibacterial activity in micro molar concentration range (1-32 μg/ml) and rapid clearance of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains at concentrations higher than MIC. For elucidating mode of action of designed peptides various biophysical studies including CD and Trp fluorescence were performed using model membranes. Further based on activity, selectivity and membrane bound structure; modes of action of Trp rich peptide SA-3 and template based peptide SA-4 were compared. Calcein dye leakage and transmission electron microscopic studies with model …