the present invention relates to a novel method for inhibiting the growth , elaboration and / or replication of hiv in human patients and to the prevention and treatment of human acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and other diseases caused by retroviral infection . in preferred aspects , the present invention provides a method for the use of a novel class of oligodeoxynucleotides consisting of 4 - thio - 2 ′- deoxyuridylate units for the prevention and treatment of both wild - type and drug - resistant human immunodeficiency virus 1 , the causative pathogen of aids .