Single Domain Antibodies Directed Against Intracellular Antigens

Abstract

This invention provides compositions and methods to prevent aberrant cell proliferation in a subject using a single-domain antibody (sdAb) directed against an intracellular component, wherein the aberrant cell proliferation can be cancer. The sdAb is synergistic with one or more chemotherapeutic drugs and improves therapeutic efficacy of the one or more chemotherapeutic drug against cancer. The invention also includes a method of treating viral infections using a single-domain antibody (sdAb), wherein the sbAb inhibits the replication of Ebola viruses and Zika viruses in infected cells.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of preventing aberrant cell proliferation in a subject using a single-domain antibody (sdAb) directed against an intracellular component. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the aberrant cell proliferation is cancer. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cancer is osteosarcoma, fibrosarcoma or glioblastoma. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sdAb is synergistic with one or more chemotherapeutic drags and improves therapeutic efficacy of the one or more chemotherapeutic drug against cancer. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more chemotherapeutic drugs comprises doxorubicin. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sbAb decreases the toxicity of one or more chemotherapeutic drugs and improves survival in the treated subject. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sbAb is used in combination with one or more compounds. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the Intracellular component comprises a protein. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the protein comprises STAT1, STAT2, STAT3, STAT4, STAT5a, STAT5b, or STAT6. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sdAb comprises anti-STAT3 VHH13 (SEQ ID NO:3) sdAb. 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating viral infections using a single-domain antibody (sdAb). 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the viral infection is caused by one or more of a DNA virus, an RNA virus, or a retrovirus. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the virus is hepatitis A virus, hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus, human papillomavirus, polio virus, rabies virus, herpesvirus, West Nile virus, Ebola virus, and Zika virus. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sbAb inhibits the replication of Ebola viruses in infected cells. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the sdAb inhibits the replication of Zika virus in infected cells. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the sdAb is used in combination with one or more compounds.