Inventors:
Michael Brown - Dallas TX, US
Jin Ye - Dallas TX, US
Chunfu Wang - Dallas TX, US
Rhea Sumpter - Dallas TX, US
Joseph Goldstein - Dallas TX, US
Michael Gale - Dallas TX, US
International Classification:
A61K031/401, A61K031/366, A61K031/225
US Classification:
514423000, 514460000, 514548000
Abstract:
Permissiveness of human cells to replication of susceptible pathogenic human viruses is reduced by treating the cells with a selective inhibitor of prenylation of a host cell protein. Target viruses, especially Flaviviridae, are predetermined to lack a CXXX box and prenylated viral protein, and to be replication-dependent on host protein prenylation. The general method comprises (a) contacting human cells subject to infection by the virus with an effective amount of a selective inhibitor of a prenylation enzyme of the cells; and (b) confirming a resultant reduction in permissiveness of the cells to replication of the virus. Targeted enzymes include prenyl biosynthetic enzyme like HMG CoA reductase farnesyl and/or geranylgeranyl transferase enzymes.