Compositions and methods for preventing infection

Abstract

This invention relates to cholesterol-sequestering agents and methods of using cholesterol-sequestering agents to prevent infection. The compositions of the invention can be used to decontaminate skin and environmental surfaces that are contacted with microorganisms such as envelope viruses.

1 . A glove comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface is coated with an amount of a cholesterol-sequestering agent effective to reduce or prevent dermal transmission of an envelope virus to an individual wearing the glove.  
     
     
         2 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior surface of the glove is coated with the cholesterol-sequestering agent.  
     
     
         3 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the glove is coated with a powder comprising the cholesterol-sequestering agent.  
     
     
         4 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the cholesterol-sequestering agent is a cyclodextrin.  
     
     
         5 . The glove of  claim 4 , wherein the cyclodextrin is a beta-cyclodextrin.  
     
     
         6 . The glove of  claim 5 , wherein the beta-cyclodextrin is 2-OH-propyl-beta-cyclodextrin.  
     
     
         7 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the envelope virus is a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  
     
     
         8 . The glove of  claim 1 , wherein the envelope virus is a human herpes virus, a hepatitis virus, a pox virus, an influenza virus, a parainfluenza virus, or a human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV).  
     
     
         9 . A kit comprising a plurality of gloves according to  claim 1 .  
     
     
         10 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the kit comprises at least 10 of the gloves.  
     
     
         11 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the kit comprises at least 50 of the gloves.  
     
     
         12 . The kit of  claim 11 , wherein the kit comprises at least 100 of the gloves.  
     
     
         13 . A composition comprising an absorbent material comprising a cholesterol-sequestering agent that prevents or reduces viral transmission, wherein the composition is formulated for dermal application to release an amount of the cholesterol-sequestering agent effective to reduce or prevent dermal transmission of an envelope virus to an individual when the composition is contacted to the skin of the individual.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the composition is a swab.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the composition is a wipe.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the absorbent material is cotton.  
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the cholesterol-sequestering agent is a cyclodextrin.  
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 17 , wherein the cyclodextrin is a beta-cyclodextrin.  
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 18 , wherein the beta-cyclodextrin is 2-OH-propyl-beta-cyclodextrin.  
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the envelope virus is a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).  
     
     
         21 . The composition of  claim 13 , wherein the envelope virus is a human herpes virus, a hepatitis virus, a pox virus, an influenza virus, a parainfluenza virus, or a human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV).  
     
     
         22 . A kit comprising a plurality of compositions according to  claim 13 .  
     
     
         23 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the kit comprises at least 10 of the compositions.  
     
     
         24 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the kit comprises at least 50 of the compositions.  
     
     
         25 . The kit of  claim 22 , wherein the kit comprises at least 100 of the compositions.  
     
     
         26 . A method of reducing or preventing viral transmission, the method comprising: 
 selecting an individual engaged in an activity associated with an elevated risk of exposure to an envelope virus, wherein the activity is not a sexual or drug use-related activity; and    contacting a skin surface of the individual with a composition comprising an amount of a cholesterol-sequestering agent effective to reduce or prevent dermal transmission of the envelope virus to the individual.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the individual is a medical worker.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the medical worker is a blood handler.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the individual is a soldier.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein a hand of the individual is contacted with the composition.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the composition is a glove comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein the interior surface of the glove is coated with the amount of the cholesterol-sequestering agent effective to reduce or prevent dermal transmission of the envelope virus to the individual.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition comprises an absorbent material comprising the cholesterol-sequestering agent, and wherein the composition is contacted to the skin surface of the individual and releases an amount of the cholesterol-sequestering agent effective to reduce or prevent transmission of the envelope virus to the individual.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the composition is contacted to a portion of the skin comprising a lesion or an irritation.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the composition is contacted to a portion of the skin comprising a lesion resulting from a puncture of the skin with a medical instrument.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the medical instrument is a needle or a scalpel.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition comprises a cream comprising the cholesterol-sequestering agent.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition comprises a spray comprising the cholesterol-sequestering agent.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the composition comprises a powder comprising the cholesterol-sequestering agent.  
     
     
         39 . A method of treating an environmental surface, the method comprising: 
 identifying a surface that has been exposed to blood or a blood product; and    contacting the surface with a composition comprising an amount of a cholesterol-sequestering agent effective to reduce the amount of an envelope virus, if present, on the surface.    
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the surface is located in a medical facility.  
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the medical facility is a patient care facility.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the medical facility is a medical laboratory.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the composition comprises an absorbent material comprising the cholesterol-sequestering agent, and wherein the composition is contacted to the surface and releases an amount of the cholesterol-sequestering agent effective to reduce the amount of an envelope virus, if present, on the surface.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the composition comprises a spray comprising the cholesterol-sequestering agent.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the composition comprises a powder comprising the cholesterol-sequestering agent.