Viral phospholipase A₂ enzymes, anti-viral agents and methods of use

摘要

The present invention provides a novel class of phospholipase A2 enzyme (PLA2) from viruses and a method for identifying, isolating, purifying and characterizing enzymes of this class. The present invention includes viral PLA2 proteins, nucleic acids, and antisense oligonucleotides, and the use of these molecules in screening methods for anti-viral agents, in decreasing the infectivity and/or replication of viruses and as research tools. The present invention further includes treatment or prevention of virus-associated diseases using viral PLA2 inhibitors and the use of the viral PLA2-encoding region to improve virus-based gene therapy vectors.