METHODS OF PREVENTING AND TREATING VIRAL INFECTIONS BY INHIBITING THE DEISGYLATION ACTIVITY OF OTU DOMAIN-CONTAINING VIRAL PROTEINS

摘要

Viruses having an impaired ability to delSGylate ISG 15 conjugates, in particular, viral mutants comprising a mutation in the viral genome that reduces or eliminates the ability of the viral OTU domain-containing protein encoded by the viral genome to delSGylate ISG15 conjugates and/or deubiquitinate ubiquitinated proteins and/or deNeddylate Neddylated proteins are disclosed. Such viral mutants may be used in the formulation of immunogenic compositions for inducing an immune response and preventing, managing and/or treating a viral infection, or for identifying anti-viral compounds. In particular, methods of identifying compounds that reduce or inhibit the delSGylation activity and/or deubiquitination and/or deNeddylation activity of a viral OTU domain-containing protein are also disclosed.