Abstract: The invention relates to methods of treating a hepatitus virus infection by administering a therapeutically effective amount of a proteasome inhibitor and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to a subject in need thereof. Preferably, the protesome in hibitor inhibits or regulates a ubiquitin proteasome pathway.

Abstract: The present invention provides screening methods for identifying a compound that induces loss of the lentiviral protein Vpr; screening methods for identifying compounds that inhibit the peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase) activity of a protein that catalyzes cis-trans isomerization of cis-peptidylprolyl bonds in Vpr; and compounds identified by the screening methods. The compounds are useful for treating a lentiviral infection. The present invention further provides methods of inducing loss of the lentiviral protein Vpr; methods of inhibiting lentivirus viral replication; and methods of treating a lentivirus infection in an individual. The methods generally involve administering to an individual infected with the lentivirus an effective amount of a compound that induces Vpr loss and/or that inhibits PPIase activity of a protein that catalyzes cis-trans isomerization of cis-peptidylprolyl bonds in Vpr.

Abstract: The invention relates to agents for the treatment of viral infections, in particular, infections with hepatitis and retro-viruses. Said agents inhibit the release, maturation and replication of both retro-viruses and also hepatitis viruses. In the example of human immune deficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis-B viruses it has been shown that proteasome inhibitors block the release of virus particles and the infectiousness of the released viral particles and thus the reproduction of the viruses. The proteasome inhibitors affect the activities in the ubiquitin/proteasome pathway, in particular the enzymatic activities of the 26S and the 20S proteasome complexes. The application for the above invention lies in anti-retroviral therapy, particularly the treatment of HIV infections and AIDS and in the anti-viral therapy of hepatitis infections, in particular the treatment of acute and chronic HBV and HCV infections and the associated liver carcinomas.

Abstract: The present invention provides screening methods for identifying a compound that induces loss of the lentiviral protein Vpr; screening methods for identifying compounds that inhibit the peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase (PPIase) activity of a protein that catalyzes cis-trans isomerization of cis-peptidylprolyl bonds in Vpr; and compounds identified by the screening methods. The compounds are useful for treating a lentiviral infection. The present invention further provides methods of inducing loss of the lentiviral protein Vpr; methods of inhibiting lentivirus viral replication; and methods of treating a lentivirus infection in an individual. The methods generally involve administering to an individual infected with the lentivirus an effective amount of a compound that induces Vpr loss and/or that inhibits PPIase activity of a protein that catalyzes cis-trans isomerization of cis-peptidylprolyl bonds in Vpr.