POLYVALENT INHIBITORS OF PATHOGENS

摘要

The present invention provides polyvalent host cell receptor-directed pathogen inhibitors and methods for designing and using such polyvalent inhibitors. Polyvalent inhibitors of the invention comprise a biocompatible scaffold having attached thereto a plurality of ligands, e.g. peptides, capable of binding a host cell receptor or portion thereof of a pathogen or toxin of a pathogen thereby preventing the pathogen or toxin thereof from binding to the host cell and causing toxicity of the host cell. Also provided are methods of designing such polyvalent host cell receptor-directed pathogen inhibitors and methods of using such inhibitors to prevent and/or treat infections of a host. The compositions of the inventions can be useful for treating anthrax.