The present invention provides new compositions and methods for preventing
and treating pathogen infection. In particular, the present invention
provides compounds having an anchoring domain that anchors the compound
to the surface of a target cell, and a therapeutic domain that can act
extracellularly to prevent infection of a target cell by a pathogen, such
as a virus. The present invention also comprises therapeutic compositions
having sialidase activity, including protein-based compounds having
sialidase catalytic domains. Compounds of the invention can be used for
treating or preventing pathogen infection, and for treating and reducing
allergic and inflammatory responses. The invention also provides
compositions and methods for enhancing transduction of target cells by
recombinant viruses. Such compositions and methods can be used in gene
therapy.
