Treating human immunodeficiency virus infections

Abstract

Methods and compositions for determining a prognosis for a subject infected with HIV, reducing a risk of an HIV infection, and treating or reducing a risk of developing AIDS are described.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A recombinant polypeptide comprising a stem loop binding protein (SLBP) fused to a second amino acid sequence. 
     
     
         2 . The recombinant polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the SLBP comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         3 . The recombinant polypeptide of  claim 1 , wherein the second amino acid sequence is a nuclear localization signal. 
     
     
         4 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising:
 the recombinant polypeptide of  claim 1 ; and   a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.   
     
     
         5 . A nucleic acid molecule encoding a recombinant polypeptide comprising a SLBP fused to a second amino acid sequence. 
     
     
         6 . The nucleic acid molecule of  claim 5 , wherein the SLBP comprises an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:2. 
     
     
         7 . The nucleic acid molecule of  claim 5 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding for SLBP comprises a nucleic acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to SEQ ID NO:1. 
     
     
         8 . A vector comprising the nucleic acid molecule of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         9 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising the vector of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         10 . A cell comprising the vector of  claim 8 . 
     
     
         11 . A method of determining a prognosis for a subject infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the method comprising:
 providing a sample from a subject infected with HIV;   assaying the sample to determine a level of SLBP in the sample to obtain a SLBP test value; and   comparing the SLBP test value to a SLBP reference value;   wherein an SLBP test value that is less than or about the same as its respective reference value indicates that the subject is at a greater risk of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and wherein a test value that is greater than its respective reference value indicates that the subject is at a lower risk of developing AIDS.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , the method further comprising:
 assaying the sample to determine a level of a histone selected from the group consisting of H1X, H1.2, H1.3, H2A.Z, H2B, and H4 to obtain a histone test value; and   comparing the histone test value to its respective histone reference value;   wherein a histone test value that is less than or about the same as its respective reference value indicates that the subject is at a greater risk of developing AIDS and wherein a histone test value that is greater than its respective reference value indicates that the subject is at a lower risk of developing AIDS.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein assaying includes assaying the sample using an anti-SLBP antibody using Western blot, an ELISA assay, or both. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein assaying includes assaying the sample using an anti-histone antibody using Western blot, an ELISA assay, or both. 
     
     
         15 . A method of reducing a risk of an HIV infection in a subject, the method comprising administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of SLBP, to thereby reduce the risk of an HIV infection in the subject. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , the method further comprising selecting the subject for administration of a therapeutically effective amount of SLBP, wherein selecting the subject comprises:
 providing a sample from the subject;   assaying the sample to determine a level of SLBP in the sample to obtain a test value;   comparing the test value to a reference value; and   selecting the subject if the test value is less than or about the same as the reference value.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the SLBP is administered to the patient intraperitoneally, intramuscularly, by infusion, vaginally, rectally, or orally. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the sample comprises serum, plasma, or blood. 
     
     
         19 . A method of identifying a candidate compound for reducing a risk of an HIV infection or for treating, or reducing a risk of developing, AIDS in a subject, the method comprising:
 providing a sample comprising a living cell;   contacting the sample with a test compound;   determining a level of SLBP in the sample in the presence of the test compound; and   selecting the test compound if the level of SLBP increases, relative to a level of SLBP in the absence of the test compound, wherein a test compound that increases the level of SLBP is a candidate compound for reducing the risk of an HIV infection, or for treating, or reducing the risk of developing, AIDS in a subject.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , the method further comprising:
 determining a level of a histone in the sample in the presence of the test compound, wherein the histone is selected from the group consisting of H1X, H1.2, H1.3, H2A.Z, H2B, and H4; and   selecting the test compound if the level of a histone increases, relative to a level of the histone in the absence of the test compound, wherein a test compound that increases the level of the histone is a candidate compound for reducing the risk of an HIV infection, or for treating, or reducing the risk of developing, AIDS in a subject.