Prevention and treatment of viral infections
Methods and compositions are provided for inhibiting or treating a viral infection in a subject using cell-impermeable inhibitors of Akt, scramblase and/or a phosphatidylserine.
1. A method of inhibiting, reducing the likelihood of, or treating a herpesvirus infection in a subject, comprising administering to the subject an amount of a cell-impermeable inhibitor of Akt effective to inhibit, reduce the likelihood of, or treat the herpesvirus infection, wherein the cell-impermeable inhibitor of Akt has the structure
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the herpesvirus is a herpes simplex virus, a cytomegalovirus, an Epstein Barr virus, a human herpesvirus-6, a human herpesvirus-7, a Varicella zoster virus, or a Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the herpesvirus is herpes simplex virus-1 or is herpes simplex virus-2.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein in the absence of the inhibitor, the herpesvirus binds to cells of the subject resulting in Ca 2+ release that activates scramblase.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has neonatal encephalitis, sporadic encephalitis, genital ulcerative disease, and/or corneal blindness.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject is at risk of neonatal encephalitis, sporadic encephalitis, genital ulcerative disease, and/or corneal blindness.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has a herpesvirus infection that is resistant to acyclovir and/or valacyclovir.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has a neurological symptom from a herpesvirus infection.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor is in a pharmaceutical composition.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the subject has a herpesvirus infection, and the method inhibits the herpesvirus infection in the subject.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the subject has a latent herpesvirus infection.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor is applied systemically to the subject.
13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor is applied topically to the subject.
14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor is applied to a mucous membrane of the subject.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the inhibitor is applied to a genitalial surface of the subject.
16. A compound having the structure
or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
17. A composition comprising a carrier and the compound of claim 16 .
18. The composition of claim 17 , wherein the composition is a pharmaceutical composition and the carrier is a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.