Treatment of viral infections

Abstract

The present invention concerns polypeptides derived from a tandem repeat of apoE 141-149 and their uses as medicaments. The peptides may comprise the tandem repeat, and truncations thereof, for which at least one Leucine (L) is replaced by an amino acid with a side chain comprising at least 4 carbon atoms and at least one Nitrogen atom. Such peptides are useful for preventing or treating viral infections.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An isolated and purified antiviral polypeptide comprising between 14 and 18 amino acids of the apoE 141-149  tandem repeat set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein said polypeptide comprises one or more amino acid substitutions of an amino acid with a side chain comprising at least 4 carbon atoms and at least one nitrogen atom for leucine (L). 
     
     
         24 . The polypeptide of  claim 23 , wherein the amino acid with a side chain comprising at least 4 carbon atoms and at least one nitrogen atom is arginine (R) or lysine (K). 
     
     
         25 . The polypeptide of  claim 23 , wherein at least two substitutions are made. 
     
     
         26 . The polypeptide of  claim 23 , wherein at least one further leucine amino acid is replaced with Phenylalanine (F) or is deleted. 
     
     
         27 . The polypeptide of  claim 23 , wherein an amino acid is added to the N terminal, C terminal and/or between the ninth and tenth amino acids of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         28 . An isolated and purified antiviral polypeptide comprising YRKYRKRYYYRKYRKRYY (SEQ ID NO: 6). 
     
     
         29 . An isolated and purified antiviral polypeptide comprising LRKLRKLRKLRKLRKLRK (SEQ ID NO: 9). 
     
     
         30 . A composition, comprising the polypeptide of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         31 . A method of inhibiting viral replication, comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide of  claim 23 . 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the polypeptide is the polypeptide of  claim 24 . 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the polypeptide is the polypeptide of  claim 25 . 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the polypeptide is the polypeptide of  claim 26 . 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the polypeptide is the polypeptide of  claim 27 . 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the polypeptide is an isolated and purified antiviral polypeptide comprising YRKYRKRYYYRKYRKRYY (SEQ ID NO: 6). 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the polypeptide is an isolated and purified antiviral polypeptide comprising LRKLRKLRKLRKLRKLRK (SEQ ID NO: 9). 
     
     
         38 . An isolated and purified antiviral polypeptide derived from the apoE 141-149 tandem repeat set forth in SEQ ID NO: 2 selected from the group consisting of: 
       
         
           
                 
                 
               
                     
                   (SEQ ID NO: 56) 
                 
                     
                   WRKCRKRCWWRKCRKRCW, 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   (SEQ ID NO: 57) 
                 
                     
                   LRKLRKRLLWRKWRKRWW, 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   (SEQ ID NO: 58) 
                 
                     
                   LRKLRKRLLLRKLRKRWW, 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   (SEQ ID NO: 59) 
                 
                     
                   LRKLRKRLLWRKWRKRLL, 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   (SEQ ID NO: 60) 
                 
                     
                   WRKWRKRLLLRKLRKRLL, 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   (SEQ ID NO: 61) 
                 
                     
                   WRKLRKRLLLRKLRKRLL, 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   (SEQ ID NO: 62) 
                 
                     
                   WRKWRKFFFRKWRKRWW, 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   (SEQ ID NO: 63) 
                 
                     
                   WRKWRKRWWFRKFRKRFF, 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   (SEQ ID NO: 64) 
                 
                     
                   RRKRRKRRRRRKRRKRRR, 
                 
                     
                   and 
                 
                     
                     
                 
                     
                   (SEQ ID NO: 65) 
                 
                     
                   KRKKRKRKKKRKKRKRKK. 
                 
             
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
                
               
            
           
         
       
     
     
         39 . A method of inhibiting viral replication, comprising administering to a subject in need of such treatment a therapeutically effective amount of the polypeptide of  claim 38 .