Peptides and RNA oligonucleotides and methods of use for the inhibition of translation of an mRNA, which is initiated at an internal ribosome entry site of the mRNA and requires binding of a protein factor to that site, are disclosed. Peptides comprising the La autoantigen binding domain (LAP) are disclosed. LAP peptides alone or in combination with inhibitor RNA oligonucleotides (IRNA) may be used as antiviral agents to inhibit internal ribosome entry site (IRES) mediated viral replication.