DEFENSINS: USE AS ANTIVIRAL AGENTS

摘要

The present invention relates to inhibition of viruses, e.g., HIV, using defensins. The invention further relates to methods for identifying and usin g agents, including small molecule chemical compositions, antibodies, peptides , nucleic acids, antisense nucleic acids, and ribozymes, that increase natural ly occurring defensin expression or activity, thereby inhibiting HIV in a cell; as well as to the use of expression profiles and compositions in diagnosis a nd prophylaxis, and therapy related to HIV infection and related disease states such as AIDS.