| abstract |
The present invention relates to nucleic acid molecules, including antisense and enzymatic nucleic acid molecules, such as hammerhead ribozymes, DNAzymes, Inozymes, Zinzymes, Amberzymes, and G-cleaver ribozymes, which modulate the synthesis, expression and/or stability of an HCV or HBV RNA and methods for their use alone or in combination with other therapies. In addition, nucleic acid decoy molecules and aptamers that bind to HBV reverse transcriptase and/or HBV reverse transcriptase primer sequences and methods for their use alone or in combination with other therapies, are disclosed. Oligonucleotides that specifically bind the Enhancer I region of HBV DNA are further disclosed. The present invention further relates to the use of nucleic acids, such as decoy and aptamer molecules of the invention, to modulate the expression of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genes and HBV viral replication. Furthermore, HBV animal models and methods of use are disclosed, including methods of screening for compounds and/or potential therapies directed against HBV. The present invention also relates to compounds, including enzymatic nucleic acid molecules, ribozymes, DNAzymes, nuclease activating compounds and chimeras such as 2′,5′-adenylates, that modulate the expression and/or replication of hepatitis C virus (HCV). |