Flavivirus fusion inhibitors

Abstract

The present invention relates to peptides and methods of inhibiting fusion between the virion envelope of Flaviviruses and membranes of the target cell, the process that delivers the viral genome into the cell cytoplasm. The invention provides for methods which employ peptides or peptide derivatives to inhibit Flavivirus:cell fusion. The present invention is based in part on the discovery that E1 envelope glycoprotein of hepaciviruses and E2 envelope glycoprotein of pestivirus have previously undescribed structures, truncated class II fusion proteins. The present invention provides peptides and methods of treatment and prophylaxis of diseases induced by Flaviviruses.

Description

[0001]This Application claims the Benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 424,746, filed Nov. 8, 2002, which is incorporated by reference, in its entirety.1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to peptides and methods of inhibiting cell infection and / or virion:cell fusion by members of the Flaviviridae family.2. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]2.1. Entry of enveloped animal viruses requires fusion between the viral membrane and a cellular membrane, either the plasma membrane or an internal membrane. Class I fusion proteins possess a “fusion peptide” at or near the amino terminus, a pair of extended α helices and, generally, a cluster of aromatic amino acids proximal to a hydrophobic transmembrane anchoring domain (Carr and Kim, 1993; Suarez et al., 2000; Wilson, Skehel, and Wiley, 1981). Several otherwise disparate viruses, including orthomyxoviruses, paramyxoviruses, retroviruses, arenaviruses, and filoviruses encode class I fusion proteins varyin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Structural features of Flavivirus envelope glycoproteins identified herein provide surprising guidance for the development of vaccines and / or drugs to prevent or treat Flavivirus infections. Prior to the availability of X-ray structural data (Wild, Greenwell, and Matthews, 1993; Wild et al., 1994), several potent HIV-1 TM inhibitors were developed based on the Gallaher HIV-1 TM fusion protein model (Gallaher et al., 1989). DP178 (T20) peptide (FIG. 5A) has been shown to substantially reduce HIV-1 load in AIDS patients in preliminary results from phase III clinical trials. (Hoffman-La Roche and Trimeris, 2002). Peptide drugs should be relatively easy to develop, based on our structures. Once an effective peptide inhibitor is described a non-peptide drug can be developed.

Problems solved by technology

The infection is spread primarily through needle sharing among drug users, although there is some risk from accidental needle sticks, blood products before 1992, chronic blood dialysis, and frequent sexual contact.

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