Claims
- 1. A Vif antagonist that binds to the multimerization domain within a Vif protein in a cell and inhibits Vif protein multimerization.
- 2. The Vif antagonist of claim 1, wherein said antagonist is a peptide or a peptidomimetic thereof.
- 3. The Vif antagonist of claim 2, wherein said peptide comprises a PXP motif.
- 4. The Vif antagonist of claim 3, wherein said peptide comprises about 5 to 20 amino acids.
- 5. The Vif antagonist of claim 4, wherein said peptide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. NO: 5-23.
- 6. The Vif antagonist of claim 5, wherein said peptide is selected from the group consisting of SEQ. ID. NO: 9, SEQ. ID. NO: 11 and SEQ. ID. NO: 13.
- 7. A pharmaceutical composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and at least one Vif antagonist, wherein said Vif antagonist binds to the multimerization domain within a Vif protein in a cell and inhibits Vif protein multimerization
- 8. A single-chain antibody, or derivative thereof, that specifically binds to an epitope of a Vif protein, or derivative thereof.
- 9. The antibody of claim 8, wherein said antibody is intracellular.
- 10. A single-chain antibody, or derivative thereof, that specifically binds to an epitope of a Vif protein, or derivative thereof, wherein said antibody does not contain secretory sequences.
- 11. A method of identifying a Vif antagonist that specifically binds to the multimerization domain within a Vif protein and inhibits Vif protein multimerization, comprising
a) contacting said Vif protein with a plurality of test molecules under conditions conducive to binding between said Vif protein and said test molecules; and b) measuring the binding ability of each one of said plurality of test molecules to said Vif protein to identify said Vif antagonist within said plurality of test molecules that specifically binds to the multimerization domain within said Vif protein and inhibits said Vif protein multimerization.
- 12. A method of treating diseases or conditions in which Vif protein multimerization is required for viral replication in a mammal, comprising administering to said mammal a therapeutically effective amount of at least one Vif antagonist, wherein said Vif antagonist binds to the multimerization domain within a Vif protein and inhibits the Vif protein multimerization, thereby inhibiting Vif-mediated replication of viruses.
- 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said disease is acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
CONTINUING APPLICATION DATA
[0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 based upon U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/282,270 filed on Apr. 6, 2001.
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60282270 |
Apr 2001 |
US |