Xiangxue Group (hong Kong) Company Limited

Sirnaomics, Inc.

The University of Hong Knog

Xiangxue Group Company Limited

Bojian Zheng

Hanjun Zhao

Hongyan Sui

Yongping Lin

Patrick Y Lu

Yi Guan

Martin Woodle

Ming-Liang He

Jiandong Huang

Qingquan Tang

A method of preventively treating a subject at the risk of developing infections of a respiratory virus is disclosed. The method includes a step of administering to the subject an effective amount of a peptide synthesized through a chemical route or by a genetic engineering process, characterized in that the peptide has a functional domain capable of binding to a surface glycoprotein of a respiratory virus and has an activity of inhibiting infection of the respiratory virus, wherein the peptide has 5 or more basic amino acids, among which 2 or more basic amino acids are in N-terminal region or C-terminal region of the peptide; and wherein the peptide consists of an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO: 10. The invention also discloses the mechanism of the peptides in inhibition of said infections, which provides theory support for developing new prophylactic/therapeutic agents with broad-spectrum antiviral activities.

Method of preventively treating a subject at the risk of developing infections of a respiratory virus

Peptides having activity of inhibiting infections of respiratory viruses and use of the same are disclosed. The peptides can be synthesized by chemical or genetic engineering methods, and they have functional domain capable of binding to surface glycoprotein of respiratory viruses and activity of inhibiting infections of respiratory viruses. The peptides are useful for blocking infections of respiratory viruses in target cells, for prevention/treatment of said infections, and for development of new prophylactic/therapeutic medicaments against respiratory viruses. Also disclosed are a kit for screening peptide capable of inhibiting said infections and the screening method. The invention also discloses the mechanism of the peptides in inhibition of said infections, which provides theory support for developing new prophylactic/therapeutic agents with broad-spectrum antiviral activities.

Peptides having activity of inhibiting infections of respiratory viruses and use of the same

No antiviral regimen has been consistently successful in treating H5N1 virus infection. We demonstrate that a group of highly effective siRNAs targeting different H5N1 viral genes shares a unique motif, GGAGU/ACUCC. We further demonstrate that the effectiveness of siRNAs containing this motif is not sequence specific. The results suggested that the structure of the unique motif is critical in determining the potency of siRNA-mediated protective effects against viral infection and this potent in vivo protection is associated with early productions of &#x3b2;-defensin and IL-6 induced by the motif. Provided are methods and prophylactic and therapeutic agents useful against other viral infections in addition to the H5N1 influenza virus.

SiRNA compositions and methods for potently inhibiting viral infection

The invention provides siRNA compositions that interfere with viral replication in respiratory viral infections, including respiratory syncytial virus and avian influenza A, including the H5N1 strain. The invention further provides uses of the siRNA compositions to inhibit expression of viral genes in respiratory virus-infected cells, and to uses in the treatment of respiratory virus infections in a subject. Generally the invention provides polynucleotide that includes a first nucleotide sequence of 15 to 30 bases that targets the genome of a respiratory syncytial virus or an influenza A virus, a complement thereof, a double stranded polynucleotide or a hairpin polynucleotide. Additionally the invention provides vectors, cells and pharmaceutical compositions containing siRNA sequences.

Compositions for treating respiratory viral infections and their use

siRNA compositions and methods for potently inhibiting viral infection

The present invention provides methods for locating critical portions or sites on the spike protein (S protein) of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) responsible for the viral infection that causes Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The present invention also provides new synthetic peptides targeting such critical portions or sites of the S protein of SARS-CoV for preventing or treating of SARS-CoV infection in a subject. The present invention further provides methods of testing antiviral activity exerted by antiviral agents using real-time quantitative PCR.

Synthetic peptide targeting critical sites on the SARS-associated coronavirus spike protein responsible for viral infection and method of use thereof

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Hong Kong, China

Bojian Zheng