Treatment for bk polyomavirus infection

Abstract

The present disclosure provides novel compositions and methods for treating infection by a viral pathogen, e.g., a BK or JC polyomavirus, using agents having sialidase activity. In particular, the present disclosure provides methods that entail administering agents having an anchoring domain that anchors the compound to the surface of a target cell, and a sialidase domain that can act extracellularly to inhibit infection of a target cell by a pathogen.

1 . A method of treating an infection or reducing the risk or severity of infection by a JC polyomavirus or a JC polyomavirus-associated disorder in a subject, the method comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 or SEQ ID NO:14. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising administering a composition comprising microparticles comprising a polypeptide comprising the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 13 or SEQ ID NO:14. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the agent is not systemically administered. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the subject is immunocompromised. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the infection is associated with an event selected from the group consisting of: an HIV infection, cessation of immunosuppressive therapy, commencement of antiviral therapy, and monoclonal antibody autoimmune disease therapy. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the subject is a transplant patient undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the subject is being treated with an immunomodulatory agent that reduces one or more aspects of immune function. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the immunomodulatory agent is selected from the group consisting of natalizumab, rituximab, efalizumab and infliximab. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the JC polyomavirus is actively replicating in the subject. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is granule cell neuronopathy. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is encephalopathy. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is meningitis. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the disorder is immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome.