A novel class of cationic peptides having antimicrobial activity is disclosed. These peptides can be encompassed by the formulas: X1X1PX2X3X2P(X2X2P)nX2X3(X5)0;(SEQ ID NO:23) X1X1PX2X3X4(X5)rPX2X3X3;(SEQ ID NO:24) X1X1X3(PW)uX3X2X5X2X2X5X2(X5)0; and(SEQ ID NO:25) X1X1X3X3X2P(X2X2P)nX2(X5)m;(SEQ ID NO:26) wherein: m is 1 to 5; n is 1 or 2; o is 2 to 5; r is 0 to 8; u is 0 or 1; X1 is Isoleucine, Leucine, Valine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Tryptophan or Methionine; X2 represents Tryptophan or Phenylalanine X3 represents Arginine or Lysine; X4 represents Tryptophan or Lysine; and X5 represents Phenylalanine, Tryptophan, Arginine, Lysine, or Proline. The invention also provides a method of producing a cationic peptide variant having antimicrobial activity.