CELLULAR VIRUS RECEPTORS AND METHODS OF USE.

摘要

Methods, reagents and compositions for the treatment, prevention and diagnotic of virus infections in vertebrates and more paticularly in human and animals are described. The invention provides evidence that the CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5 and CCR8 receptors are involved in human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections. Therefore, the present invention describes methods for modulation of cellular viral infection by modulating a binding interaction between a CCR1, CCR2, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5 and/or CCR8 receptor and a surface protein of the virus. The invention also profits of such a binding interaction for 10 providing methods for reducing viral infection of a cell; methods of attenuating the ability of a pneumovirus to bind a mammalian cell; methods for reducing the initiation or spread of a respiratory tract disease due to human RSV; methods for detecting the presence of a pneumovirus in a biological sample; gene therapy methods, and methods for identifying novel antiviral and anti-inflammatory 15 compounds.