Abstract: The invention provides methods and pharmaceutical compositions for inhibiting viral replication, particularly retroviral replication. The methods comprise administration of stibonic acid or diphenyl compounds that disrupt viral nucleocapsid binding to nucleic acids.

Abstract: The present invention provides several classes of compounds which can be used to inactivate retroviruses, such as HIV-1, by attacking the CCHC zinc fingers of the viral nucleocapsid protein and ejecting the zinc therefrom. In addition, kits for identifying compounds that can react with CCHC zinc fingers of the nucleocapsid proteins of a large number of different retroviruses have also been developed. The kits of the present invention describe a set of specific tests and reagents that can be used to screen and identify compounds based on their ability to react with and disrupt retroviral zinc fingers in the viral NC proteins and, in turn, inactivate the retrovirus of interest.

Abstract: The invention provides oligonucleotides which bind to retroviral nucleocapsid proteins with high affinity, molecular decoys for retroviral nucleocapsid proteins which inhibit viral replication, targeted molecules comprising high affinity oligonucleotides, assays for selecting test compounds, and related kits.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to pharmaceutical compositions including a saturated 1,2-dithiaheterocyclic compound having antiviral activity. The present invention also provides a kit containing the pharmaceutical composition and methods of treating or preventing viral disease using the composition, as well as methods for inactivating retrovirus in a body fluid.

Abstract: The present invention provides several classes of compounds which can be used to inactivate retroviruses, such as HIV-1, by attacking the CCHC zinc fingers of the viral nucleocapsid protein and ejecting the zinc therefrom. In addition, kits for identifying compounds that can react with CCHC zinc fingers of the nucleocapsid proteins of a large number of different retroviruses have also been developed. The kits of the present invention describe a set of specific tests and reagents that can be used to screen and identify compounds based on their ability to react with and disrupt retroviral zinc fingers in the viral NC proteins and, in turn, inactivate the retrovirus of interest.

Abstract: An antigen capture method, and an antigen capture assay diagnostic kit, for detecting the presence or concentration of HIV in a biological sample without interference from antigen-antibody immune complexes is provided. The lysate of a biological sample obtained from an animal is contacted with a detectable mount of an antibody specifically reactive with the nucleocapsid p7 antigen or an immunoreactive fragment of the p7 antigen for a time and under conditions sufficient for p7 antigen contained in the lysate to form a p7-antibody complex. The presence or concentration of this p7-antibody complex is determined to detect or quantitate the presence of HIV in the biological sample. Uses of this assay and method include detecting the presence of HIV infection in an infant born to an HIV-infected mother, monitoring the progression of HIV infection, and evaluating the effectiveness of an anti-HIV treatment administered to an animal, such as a human.

Abstract: The present invention defines a biological role for the following sequence of amino acids that is found in the nucleocapsid domain of the gag precursor polyproteins of all replication-competent retroviruses:-Cys-X-X-Cys-X-X-X-X-His-X-X-X-X-Cys-wherein X represents variable amino acids. The invariant residues constitute part of a vital protein structure, at least one of which are found in all retroviruses and which are involved in the selection and packaging of genomic viral RNA into infectious virus particles. Disruption of this structure leads to the formation of virus-like particles which appear to be structurally normal, but which do not contain the normal complement of viral RNA. Therefore, their infectivity is drastically reduced or completely eliminated.

Abstract: The present invention provides a purified and isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding serine protease (Met-ase) having Met-ase activity but not Asp-ase activity and a molecular weight of about 30,000 daltons on SDS PAGE under reducing and non-reducing conditions. The present invention also provides a vector comprising this nucleic acid molecule, a prokaryotic or eukaryotic host cell stably transformed or transfected with the vector, as well as a method for detecting this nucleic acid in a sample.

Abstract: An antigen capture method, and an antigen capture assay diagnostic kit, for detecting the presence or concentration of HIV in a biological sample without interference from antigen-antibody immune complexes is provided. The lysate of a biological sample obtained from an animal is contacted with a detectable amount of an antibody specifically reactive with the nucleocapsid p7 antigen or an immunoreactive fragment of the p7 antigen for a time and under conditions sufficient for p7 antigen contained in the lysate to form a p7-antibody complex. The presence or concentration of this p7-antibody complex is determined to detect or quantitate the presence of HIV in the biological sample. Uses of this assay and method include detecting the presence of HIV infection in an infant born to an HIV-infected mother, monitoring the progression of HIV infection, and evaluating the effectiveness of an anti-HIV treatment administered to an animal, such as a human.