Newly discovered particles have been found associated with non-A, non-B hepatitis.

The virus attach to the cell surface via specific receptors and are taken up by an endosome being formed.

Several other togaviruses of the alphavirus genus (Ross River, O’nyong-nyong, etc) have also been associated with a similar syndrome.

Rubella (German measles)1 is a viral illness caused by a Togavirus of the genus Rubivirus and is characterized by a maculopapular rash.

Preferably, the expression system is based on a togavirus expression system, more preferred on an alphavirus expression system, and most preferred on a Semliki Forest virus expression system.

This invention provides antisense antiviral compounds and methods of their use in inhibition of growth of viruses of the picornavirus, calicivirus, togavirus and flavivirus families, as in treatment of a viral infection.