Compositions and methods for inhibiting abnormal cell growth

A process of treating a subject infected with a strain of human papilloma virus, comprising:

• providing a composition comprising:
• a peptide halomethyl ketone inhibitor of a chymotrypsin or chymotrypsin-like protease, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
• and
• administering a therapeutically effective amount of the composition to the subject infected with a strain of human papilloma virus.

A process of inhibiting a viral infection, comprising:

• providing a composition comprising:
• a peptide halomethyl ketone inhibitor of a chymotrypsin or chymotrypsin-like protease, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
• and
• contacting a cell infected with a human papilloma virus with an amount of the composition effective to decrease viral DNA in the cell, such that a viral infection is inhibited.

A process of inhibiting a viral infection, comprising:

• providing a composition comprising:
• a peptide halomethyl ketone inhibitor of a chymotrypsin or chymotrypsin-like protease, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier;
• and
• contacting a plurality of cells with a therapeutic amount of the composition, the plurality of cells comprising a first population of cells infected with a human papilloma virus and a second population of cells uninfected by the human papilloma, the therapeutic amount of the composition effective to selectively inhibit growth of the first population of cells and non-toxic to the second population of cell, such that a viral infection is inhibited.