Jun.28,2007  16  US 2007/0148124 Al  ecules of the same acid, or it can be a mixed anhydride. The  carboxylic acids used to form an acid anhydride may be the  same or different. The acid as used and the anhydride thus  formed may be aliphatic, alicyclic, aryl, heteroaryl, hetero› cyclic or heteroring. As used herein, the anhydride may be  unsubstituted or optionally substituted, as defined herein› above.  [0154]  The term "anti-infective agent" as used herein,  refers to an agent capable of killing infectious pathogens or  preventing them from spreading and causing infection. The  infectious pathogens include viruses, bacteria, and fungi.  [0155]  As used herein, the term "host" denotes any mam› mal. By "mammal" it is meant to refer to all mammals,  including, for example, primates such as humans and mon› keys. Examples of other mammals included herein are  rabbits, dogs, cats, cattle, goats, sheep and horses. Prefer› ably, the mammal is a female or male human.  [0156]  The term, "therapeutically effective amount" or  synonym thereto as defined herein, is that amount of the  compounds described herein sufficient to effect beneficial or  desired results, including clinical results. For example, when  referring to an agent that inhibits viral, bacterial or fungal  infection, a therapeutically effective amount of the com› pounds described herein is that amount sufficient to achieve  reduction in the viral, bacterial or fungal infection as com› pared to the response obtained in the absence of ( or without  administering) the compound.  [0157]  As used herein, and as well understood in the art,  "treatment" is an approach for obtaining beneficial or  desired results including clinical results. Beneficial or  desired clinical results can include, but are not limited to,  alleviation or amelioration of one or more symptoms or  conditions, diminishment of extent of disease or infection by  virus, fungus or bacteria, stabilized (i.e., not worsening)  state of disease or infection by virus, fungus or bacteria,  preventing spread of disease or infection by virus, fungus or  bacteria, delay or slowing of disease progression or infection  by virus, fungus or bacteria, amelioration or palliation of the  disease state or infection by virus, fungus or bacteria, and  remission (whether partial or total) whether detectable or  undetectable or inhibiting or suppressing the infection by a  virus, bacteria or fungus. "Treatment" can also mean pro› longing survival as compared to expected survival if not  receiving treatment.  [0158]  Palliating" a disease or disorder or infection means  that the extent and/or undesirable clinical manifestations of  a disorder or a disease state or infection by bacteria, fungus  or virus are lessened and/or time course of the progression  is slowed or lengthened, as compared to not treating the  disorder.  [0159]  The term "modulate", as used herein, includes the  inhibition or suppression of a function or activity as well as  the enhancement of a function or activity.  [0160]  To "inhibit" or "suppress" or "reduce" a function or  activity, such as viral, fungal or bacteria, is to reduce the  function or activity when compared to otherwise same  conditions, or alternatively, as compared to another condi› tion.  [0161]  The term "prophylaxis" as used herein refers to  reduction in the risk or likelihood of development of infec- tion from a virus, fungus or bacteria or reduction in the risk  or likelihood of development of a disease caused by or  associated with an infection of viral bacteria or fungus when  a compound described herein is administered to a subject  relative to the absent of ( or without administrating) said  compound to the subject.  [0162]  The phrase "compound(s) of the present invention"  or "polymer(s) of the present invention" or synonym(s)  thereto shall at all times be understood to include both  anionic cellulose based polymers and acrylic based poly› mers including compounds of Formula I and Formula II,  including, for example, the free form thereof, e.g., the free  acid or base form, and also, all prodrugs, polymorphs,  hydrates, solvates, tautomers, and the like, and all pharma› ceutically acceptable salts, unless specifically stated other› wise.  It will also be appreciated that suitable active metabo› lites of such compounds are within the scope of the present  invention.  [0163]  The phrase "molecularly dispersed" as used herein  means soluble in a particular solvent, such as water or other  aqueous solvent. By soluble, it is meant that at least one  gram of the compound dissolves in 100 mL of water or  aqueous solvent.  [0164]  The phrase "dissociated" as used herein means that  the compound dissociates into its cationic or anionic form  when placed in water or aqueous solvent at 25°  C. or in  heated water or aqueous solvent. The term "mostly disso› ciated" refers to at least 50% by weight of the compound or  polymer that is present is dissociated into water or aqueous  at 25° C. or in heated water or aqueous solvent into its  anionic and cationic form.  [0165]  The present invention relates to the use of anionic  cellulose-based polymers, copolymers, and oligomers, and  anionic acrylic-based polymers, copolymers, and oligomers.  One preferred use thereof is for the treatment and prevention  of infectious organisms, in particular, the infectious organ› isms causing STDs. In an embodiment, said anionic cellu› lose based polymers, copolymers, and oligomers are com› pounds of Formula I.  [0166]  As defined herein, the backbone of the sugar moi› ety in Formula I and the acrylic moiety in Formula II are  repeated. However, as defined, with respect to Formula I,  each R $^{1 }$in each repeating unit and each R  2  in each repeating  unit, each R 3  in each repeating unit and each R 4  in each  repeating unit may be the same or different. Thus, each time  the monomer depicted in Formula I is repeated, R $^{1 }$can be the  same or different each time, R  $^{2 }$be the same or different each  time, R 3  can be the same or different each time and R 4  can  be the same each time. Thus, the polymer of Formula I may  contain more than one monomer unit, wherein the definition  of each R1, R 2 , R $^{3 }$and R$^{4 }$may be the same or different from  one monomer unit to the next. However, in an embodiment  the polymer is comprised of one monomer wherein the  definition of each R1, R 2 , R 3  and R 4  in each monomeric unit  does not vary from monomer to monomer, i.e., in all the  monomeric units, each R$^{1 }$is the same, each R 2  is the same,  each R 3  is the same can each R 4  is the same, but R1, R 2 , R 3  and R $^{4 }$reflective to each others may be the same or different.  [0167]  In an embodiment, at least one ofR1, R 2 , R $^{3 }$and R4  is an aryl group substituted by one, two or three carboxylic  acids and optionally a sulfonic or sulfonic acid moiety or  they are bonded to a 5 or 6 membered ring containing an 