Pan-antiviral peptides and uses thereof

摘要

Methods for preparing viral neuraminidase inhibitors including antiviral peptides by specifically chemically modifying disulfide bonds in precursor molecules. A method of inhibiting viral neuraminidases by administrating a viral neuraminidase inhibitor comprising an antiviral peptide prepared by the above methods and inhibiting the viral neuraminidase. Therapeutics for inhibiting viral neuraminidases, including effective amounts of viral neuraminidase inhibitors including antiviral peptides derived from selectively chemically modified disulfide bonds in precursor molecules, and present in a pharmaceutically acceptable carriers.

主权项

1. A method for inhibiting a viral neuraminidase, comprising contacting a viral neuraminidase with a peptide selected from the group consisting of:
a) a peptide prepared using a method comprising specifically chemically modifying disulfide bonds in an α-neurotoxin, wherein said specifically chemically modifying step comprises:
i) specifically reducing the disulfide bond with a reducing agent to form sulfhydryl groups; and,ii) subsequently adding a blocking reactant that forms covalent bonds with the reduced sulfhydryl groups to prevent reoxidation of the sulfhydryl groups; wherein the reduced and blocked peptide has antiviral activity; and, b) a peptide comprising the following characteristics:
i) the peptide comprises the amino acid sequence of a native α-neurotoxin;ii) the cysteines normally involved in forming disulfide bonds are oxidized so they are unable to form disulfide bonds, such that the peptide lacks disulfide bonds;iii) the amino acids of the peptide are unmodified, except for lacking disulfide bonds; and,iv) the peptide has antiviral activity.