Use of Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors to Treat Alphavirus Infections

Abstract

The present invention provides methods for treating a flavivirus infection, including hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, in an individual suffering from a flavivirus infection. In some embodiments, the methods involve administering to an individual in need thereof an effective amount of an agent that inhibits enzymatic activity of a membrane-bound α-glucosidase inhibitor. In other embodiments, the methods involve administering to an individual in need thereof effective amounts of an α-glucosidase inhibitor and at least one additional therapeutic agent.

1 . A method of treating a flavivirus infection in an individual, the method comprising administering to the individual an effective amount of an agent that inhibits enzymatic activity of a membrane-bound α-glucosidase. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent inhibits the p7 protein of hepatitis C virus. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agent is an imino sugar. 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . A method of treating a flavivirus infection in an individual, the method comprising administering to the individual effective amounts of an α-glucosidase inhibitor and at least one additional therapeutic agent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one additional therapeutic agent comprises an interferon-α (IFN-α). 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the IFN-α is interferon alfacon-1. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the IFN-α is pegylated. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the pegylated IFN-α is selected from peginterferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alfa-2b, and monoPEG (30 kD, linear)-ylated consensus IFN-α. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the IFN-α is hyperglycosylated. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one additional therapeutic agent comprises an interferon-γ (IFN-γ). 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the IFN-γ is interferon gamma-1b. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the IFN-γ is pegylated. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the IFN-γ is hyperglycosylated. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one additional therapeutic agent comprises an HCV NS3 protease inhibitor. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one additional therapeutic agent comprises an HCV NS5B RNA-dependent RNA polymerase inhibitor. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one additional therapeutic agent comprises a nucleoside analog. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the nucleoside analog is selected from viramidine, ribavirin, and levovirin. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the individual is a human.