Antiviral Cyanometabolites—A Review
Global processes, such as climate change, frequent and distant travelling and population growth, increase the risk of viral infection spread. Unfortunately, the number of effective and accessible medicines for the prevention and treatment of these infections is limited. Therefore, in recent years, e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/11/3/474 |
| _version_ | 1827697012754087936 |
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| author | Hanna Mazur-Marzec Marta Cegłowska Robert Konkel Krzysztof Pyrć |
| author_facet | Hanna Mazur-Marzec Marta Cegłowska Robert Konkel Krzysztof Pyrć |
| author_sort | Hanna Mazur-Marzec |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Global processes, such as climate change, frequent and distant travelling and population growth, increase the risk of viral infection spread. Unfortunately, the number of effective and accessible medicines for the prevention and treatment of these infections is limited. Therefore, in recent years, efforts have been intensified to develop new antiviral medicines or vaccines. In this review article, the structure and activity of the most promising antiviral cyanobacterial products are presented. The antiviral cyanometabolites are mainly active against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other enveloped viruses such as herpes simplex virus (HSV), Ebola or the influenza viruses. The majority of the metabolites are classified as lectins, monomeric or dimeric proteins with unique amino acid sequences. They all show activity at the nanomolar range but differ in carbohydrate specificity and recognize a different epitope on high mannose oligosaccharides. The cyanobacterial lectins include cyanovirin-N (CV-N), scytovirin (SVN), microvirin (MVN), <i>Microcystis</i><i>viridis</i> lectin (MVL), and <i>Oscillatoria agardhii</i> agglutinin (OAA). Cyanobacterial polysaccharides, peptides, and other metabolites also have potential to be used as antiviral drugs. The sulfated polysaccharide, calcium spirulan (CA-SP), inhibited infection by enveloped viruses, stimulated the immune system’s response, and showed antitumor activity. Microginins, the linear peptides, inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), therefore, their use in the treatment of COVID-19 patients with injury of the ACE2 expressing organs is considered. In addition, many cyanobacterial extracts were revealed to have antiviral activities, but the active agents have not been identified. This fact provides a good basis for further studies on the therapeutic potential of these microorganisms. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:00:19Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c0ca605c32e8401abdca2bcd7ebfd576 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T13:00:19Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-c0ca605c32e8401abdca2bcd7ebfd5762023-11-21T11:33:51ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2021-03-0111347410.3390/biom11030474Antiviral Cyanometabolites—A ReviewHanna Mazur-Marzec0Marta Cegłowska1Robert Konkel2Krzysztof Pyrć3Division of Marine Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, Marszałka J. Piłsudskiego 46, PL-81-378 Gdynia, PolandInstitute of Oceanology, Polish Academy of Science, Powstańców Warszawy 55, PL-81-712 Sopot, PolandDivision of Marine Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, Marszałka J. Piłsudskiego 46, PL-81-378 Gdynia, PolandVirogenetics Laboratory of Virology, Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7A, PL-30-387 Krakow, PolandGlobal processes, such as climate change, frequent and distant travelling and population growth, increase the risk of viral infection spread. Unfortunately, the number of effective and accessible medicines for the prevention and treatment of these infections is limited. Therefore, in recent years, efforts have been intensified to develop new antiviral medicines or vaccines. In this review article, the structure and activity of the most promising antiviral cyanobacterial products are presented. The antiviral cyanometabolites are mainly active against the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other enveloped viruses such as herpes simplex virus (HSV), Ebola or the influenza viruses. The majority of the metabolites are classified as lectins, monomeric or dimeric proteins with unique amino acid sequences. They all show activity at the nanomolar range but differ in carbohydrate specificity and recognize a different epitope on high mannose oligosaccharides. The cyanobacterial lectins include cyanovirin-N (CV-N), scytovirin (SVN), microvirin (MVN), <i>Microcystis</i><i>viridis</i> lectin (MVL), and <i>Oscillatoria agardhii</i> agglutinin (OAA). Cyanobacterial polysaccharides, peptides, and other metabolites also have potential to be used as antiviral drugs. The sulfated polysaccharide, calcium spirulan (CA-SP), inhibited infection by enveloped viruses, stimulated the immune system’s response, and showed antitumor activity. Microginins, the linear peptides, inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), therefore, their use in the treatment of COVID-19 patients with injury of the ACE2 expressing organs is considered. In addition, many cyanobacterial extracts were revealed to have antiviral activities, but the active agents have not been identified. This fact provides a good basis for further studies on the therapeutic potential of these microorganisms.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/11/3/474cyanobacteriaantiviral metaboliteslectinspolysaccharides |
| spellingShingle | Hanna Mazur-Marzec Marta Cegłowska Robert Konkel Krzysztof Pyrć Antiviral Cyanometabolites—A Review Biomolecules cyanobacteria antiviral metabolites lectins polysaccharides |
| title | Antiviral Cyanometabolites—A Review |
| title_full | Antiviral Cyanometabolites—A Review |
| title_fullStr | Antiviral Cyanometabolites—A Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antiviral Cyanometabolites—A Review |
| title_short | Antiviral Cyanometabolites—A Review |
| title_sort | antiviral cyanometabolites a review |
| topic | cyanobacteria antiviral metabolites lectins polysaccharides |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/11/3/474 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hannamazurmarzec antiviralcyanometabolitesareview AT martacegłowska antiviralcyanometabolitesareview AT robertkonkel antiviralcyanometabolitesareview AT krzysztofpyrc antiviralcyanometabolitesareview |