Glycans with Antiviral Activity from Marine Organisms

Area of Science:

• Marine biotechnology
• Natural product chemistry
• Antiviral drug discovery

Background:

• The rise of antiviral drug resistance necessitates the exploration of novel therapeutic agents.
• Marine organisms are a rich source of bioactive compounds with therapeutic potential.
• Glycans (carbohydrate-based compounds) have emerged as important molecules in drug development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and consolidate the literature on antiviral glycans derived from marine organisms.
• To categorize these glycans based on their source organism and chemical structure.
• To highlight the antiviral spectrum of marine-derived glycans.

Main Methods:

• Literature search and review of scientific publications on marine glycans with antiviral activity.
• Classification of glycans based on isolation source: bacteria, chromists (brown algae, dinoflagellates, diatoms), plants (green algae, red algae, vascular plants), and animals.
• Identification and listing of various glycan types, including alginates, fucans, galactans, and sulfated polysaccharides.

Main Results:

• Marine glycans have been isolated from diverse marine organisms, including algae, bacteria, and animals.
• A wide array of glycan structures, such as fucans, galactans, and chitosan, exhibit antiviral properties.
• Many potent antiviral marine glycans are sulfated polysaccharides.
• These compounds demonstrate activity against a broad range of viruses, including HIV, influenza, and herpesviruses.

Conclusions:

• Marine glycans represent a promising class of natural compounds for developing new antiviral therapies.
• Their structural diversity and broad-spectrum antiviral activity warrant further investigation and development.
• The marine environment is a valuable resource for discovering novel antiviral agents to combat emerging infectious diseases.