ENZYME CATALYZED ANTI-INFECTIVE THERAPEUTIC AGENTS

摘要

This invention provides a method for selectively inhibiting an infectious agent or a cell infected by an infectious agent by contacting the infectious agent or the cell infected with the agent with a prodrug that is selectively converted to a toxin by an activating enzyme expressed by the infectious agent. The activating enzyme is selective for the enzyme expressed by the infectious agent as compared to the same or similar enzyme expressed by the host cell or other infectious agents. The activating agent is not inhibited nor inactivated by the prodrug. Screens for identifying prodrugs are also provided herein.