Compositions and methods for preventing infection

Abstract

This invention relates to cholesterol-sequestering agents and methods of using cholesterol-sequestering agents to prevent infection. The compositions of the invention can be used to reduce or prevent maternal to fetal transmission of a microorganism and/or to reduce or eliminate a microorganism present in a blood sample or a blood product.

1 . A method of treating blood or a blood product, the method comprising: 
 providing a sample comprising blood or a blood product; and    contacting the sample in vitro with a composition comprising an amount of a cholesterol-sequestering agent effective to reduce the load of a microorganism, if present, in the sample, wherein the sample is maintained after the contacting step in a sterile vessel.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cholesterol-sequestering agent is a cyclodextrin.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the cyclodextrin is a beta-cyclodextrin.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the beta-cyclodextrin is 2-OH-propyl-beta-cyclodextrin.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is a virus.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the virus is an envelope virus.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the envelope virus is a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the envelope virus is a human herpes virus.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the envelope virus is a hepatitis virus.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the envelope virus is a pox virus.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the envelope virus is an influenza or a parainfluenza virus.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the envelope virus is a human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV).  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the microorganism enters a cell of a host by endocytosis during at least a portion of its life cycle.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the microorganism is a bacterium.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the microorganism is a mycobacterium.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the microorganism is a fungus.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the microorganism is a protozoan.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample comprises whole blood.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the whole blood is human whole blood.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising introducing the sample into an individual following the contacting of the sample with the composition.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising removing or depleting white blood cells form the sample prior to introducing the sample into the individual.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the sample is identified as containing an envelope virus.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising testing the sample for the presence of the envelope virus following the contacting with the composition.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample comprises plasma.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample comprises serum.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample comprises enriched red blood cells.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample comprises enriched platelets.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sample comprises a protein purified from whole blood.  
     
     
         29 . A composition comprising a cholesterol-sequestering agent and an amount of blood or a blood product suitable for administration to an individual having a blood-related disorder or deficiency, wherein the composition is maintained in a sterile vessel.  
     
     
         30 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the composition comprises whole blood.  
     
     
         31 . The composition of  claim 30 , wherein the whole blood is human whole blood.  
     
     
         32 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the composition comprises plasma.  
     
     
         33 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the composition comprises serum.  
     
     
         34 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the composition comprises enriched red blood cells.  
     
     
         35 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the composition comprises enriched platelets.  
     
     
         36 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the composition comprises a protein purified from whole blood.  
     
     
         37 . The composition of  claim 29 , further comprising an agent that promotes the storage of the blood or blood product.  
     
     
         38 . The composition of  claim 37 , wherein the composition comprises whole blood.  
     
     
         39 . The composition of  claim 38 , wherein the agent is an anticoagulant.  
     
     
         40 . The composition of  claim 39 , wherein the composition is frozen.  
     
     
         41 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the composition comprises a purified immunoglobulin.  
     
     
         42 . The composition of  claim 29 , wherein the composition comprises a purified clotting factor.