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 

