Anti-viral fusion peptides

Abstract

Hybrid peptides capable of binding a blood borne virus to a red cell, comprising a viral binding peptide component and a malaria merozoite red cell peptide binding component.

1 . A method of treating a human immunodeficiency virus HIV1 or HIV2 infection wherein a fusion protein is used to treat said infection, said fusion protein comprising two or more components wherein the first component comprises the CD4 protein, or a substitution, deletion, or insertion analog or fragment of the CD4 protein, and the second component comprises the malaria parasite merozoite glycophorin binding protein 130 (GBP-130), or a substitution, deletion, or insertion analog or fragment of the GBP-130 protein, wherein the CD4 component retains the ability to bind to the HIV envelope glycoprotein and the GBP-130 component retains the ability to bind to erythrocytes. 
     
     
         2 . A method of preventing the transmission of a human immunodeficiency virus HIV1 or HIV2 wherein a fusion protein is used to prevent said transmission, said fusion protein comprising two or more components wherein the first component comprises the CD4 protein, or a substitution, deletion, or insertion analog or fragment of the CD4 protein, and the second component comprises the malaria parasite merozoite glycophorin binding protein 130 (GBP-130), or a substitution, deletion, or insertion analog or fragment of the GBP-130 protein, wherein the CD4 component retains the ability to bind to the HIV envelope glycoprotein and the GBP-130 component retains the ability to bind to erythrocytes.