ANTI-HEPATITIS B POLY- AND OLIGONUCLEOTIDES

摘要

Poly- and oligonucleotides which inhibit virai replication, particularly hepatitis virus replication, such as hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication, are disclosed. Preferred antiviral oligonucleotides include the following: an antiviral poly- or oligonucleotide which hybridizes to at least a portion of an RNA primer-binding region of a viral nucleic acid, preferably a DRII region of HBV DNA; an antiviral polyor oligonucleotide which hybridizes to at least a portion of an RNA primer which binds a viral nucleic acid, preferably a DRII region of HBV DNA, an antiviral poly- or oligonucleotide which hybridizes to a hepatitis virus mRNA encoding a DNA polymerase, preferably an HBV mRNA; an antiviral poly- or oligonucleotide which hybridizes to a hepatitis virus mRNA encoding an envelope protein essential for viral attachment to a target cell, preferably an HBV mRNA encoding a pre-S1 protein; and an antiviral poly- or oligonucleotide which hybridizes to an encapsidation signal of a viral nucleic acid, preferably an HBV cis-encapsidation signal, thereby inhibiting encapsidation of the viral nucleic acid. The disclosed poly- or oligonucleotides can be used for detection of the presence of viral nucleic acid, particularly HBV DNA, in a cell and can be used to treat viral infection in a subject.