Mavs in the prevention and treatment of viral disease

Abstract

The present invention includes compositions and methods for the identification, characterization and use of a novel anti-viral protein that includes a mitochondrial anti-viral signaling protein.

1 - 27 . (canceled) 
   
   
       28 . A compound that enhances or preserves the function of a mitochondrial anti-viral signaling protein isolated by a method comprising the steps of:
 contacting a sample suspected of comprising a mitochondrial anti-viral signaling protein activator; and   detecting the downstream activity of the activation of mitochondrial anti-viral signaling protein.   
   
   
       29 . The compound of  claim 28 , wherein the compound is used to treat a viral diseases. 
   
   
       30 . The compound of  claim 28 , wherein the compound is used to treat a viral diseases comprising hepatitis C, west nile virus, VSV, influenza or SARS. 
   
   
       31 . The compound of  claim 28 , wherein the virus comprises a Picornaviridae, Caliciviridae, Astroviridae, Coronaviridae, Togaviridae, Flaviviridae Paramyxoviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Filoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Bunyaviridae, Bornaviridae, Arenaviridae and combinations or mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       32 . The compound of  claim 28 , wherein the virus comprises a Sindbis virus, rubella, hepatitis C virus, West Nile virus, yellow fever virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, coxsackivirus, enterovirus, hepatitis A virus, hepatitis C virus, SARS, astrovirus, Dengue fever virus, poliovirus, and Venezuela encephalitis virus, WEE, EEE, Marayo O'nong nong, Ross River, Chikungunya, DV, Rhinovirus, Feline, murine, Norwalk, Bovine, human coronaviridae, RSV, Ebola, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Ebola virus, rabies virus, Lassa fever, Argentine hemorrhagic fever virus, La Crosse virus, Rift Valley fever, Hantaan virus, California encephalitis virus, influenza virus A, influenza virus B, measles, mumps, Marburg virus, Bolivian hemorrhagic fever virus, Crimean-Congo virus, HPIV, HMPV, Nipah, Hendra, VSV, LCMV, Junin, Bunyamwera, Uukuniemi, CCHF, HIV-1, HIV-2, HTLV-1, or HTLV-2 and combinations or mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       33 . The compound of  claim 28 , wherein the downstream signals comprise IFN-β secretion, activation of NF-κB and IRF families of transcription factors, or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       34 . A compound that prevents the destruction, cleavage or inactivation of mitochondrial anti-viral signaling protein isolated a method comprising the steps of:
 contacting a sample suspected of comprising a mitochondrial anti-viral signaling protein activator, a cell and a virus; and   detecting the extent of viral infection caused by the virus.   
   
   
       35 . The compound of  claim 34 , wherein the virus comprises hepatitis C, west nile virus, VSV, influenza or SARS. 
   
   
       36 - 45 . (canceled)