Patent ID: 7501503

Claim:
A composition for inhibiting the RNase H activity of a retroid virus reverse transcriptase comprising an inhibitory agent of Formula I: wherein, X 1 and X 2 are antiparallel complementary oligonucleotide strands that associate to form a duplex; X 1 is 2 to 24 nucleotides in length; X 2 is 2 to 24 nucleotides in length; Y 1 is 2 to 8 nucleotides in length; Y 2 is 2 to 8 nucleotides in length; at least one of Y 1 or Y 2 is 4 to 8 nucleotides in length; Y 1 and Y 2 each independently contain a ribonucleic acid; 2′,5′-linked ribonucleic acid; or combination thereof wherein a Y 1 or Y 2 of at least 4 nucleotides comprises the sequence 5′-UUYG-3′/2′ (SEQ ID NO:1); wherein the inhibitory agent comprises the nucleotide sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:2; and wherein the inhibitory agent binds to the RNase H domain of retroid virus reverse transcriptase thereby inhibiting the RNase H activity thereof.