Inhibitory peptides of viral infection

Abstract

Disclosed are methods of treating and/or inhibiting a viral infection in a subject. The methods include administering a therapeutically effective amount of heparin-binding peptide. Also disclosed herein are methods for blocking viral binding to a cell. Further disclosed are anti-viral compositions for administration to a subject infected with a virus. Administration of the anti-viral composition inhibits viral infection of the subject.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for reducing a viral infection in a subject, comprising: selecting a subject in whom the viral infection is to be reduced; and
 administering to the subject an effective amount of a heparin-binding peptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth as any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-10, thereby reducing the viral infection in the subject. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virus is an enveloped DNA virus or enveloped RNA virus. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virus is a herpesvirus. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the herpesvirus is HSV-1. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the herpesvirus is cytomegalovirus (CMV). 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the virus is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 
     
     
       7. A method for reducing binding of a virus to a cell, comprising: contacting a cell with an effective amount of a heparin-binding peptide, the heparin-binding peptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth as any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-10. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the virus is an enveloped DNA virus or enveloped RNA virus. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the virus is a herpesvirus. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 9 , wherein the herpesvirus is HSV-1. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the herpesvirus is cytomegalovirus (CMV). 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the virus is human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the heparin-binding peptide set forth as any one of SEQ ID NOs: 1-10 is a D-form peptide. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the D-form of the heparin-binding peptide comprises an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 6. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 7 , wherein contacting the cell with the effective amount of a heparin-binding peptide reduces viral infection of the cell. 
     
     
       16. An anti-viral composition, the composition comprising: a heparin-binding peptide and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the heparin-binding peptide comprising an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence set forth as any one of SEQ ID Nos. 3-10 NOs. 7, 9, and 10. 
     
     
       17. The anti-viral composition of  claim 16 , wherein the heparin-binding peptide is present in an effective amount to reduce viral infection in a subject infected with a virus by at least 60%. 
     
     
       18. The anti-viral composition of  claim 16 , wherein the heparin-binding peptide is present in an effective amount to reduce herpesvirus infection in a subject infected with herpesvirus. 
     
     
       19. The anti-viral composition of  claim 16 , wherein the heparin-binding peptide is present in an effective amount to reduce cytomegalovirus infection in a subject infected with cytomegalovirus. 
     
     
       20. The anti-viral composition of  claim 16 , wherein the heparin-binding peptide is present in an effective amount to reduce human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in a subject infected with HIV.