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Targeting the glycans: A paradigm for host-targeted and COVID-19 drug design

Fatemeh Pourrajab1,2,3

  • 1Reproductive Immunology Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.

Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
|May 24, 2021
PubMed

Insights

New strategies are needed to combat viral infections like COVID-19. Targeting host glycans with drugs, particularly using galectins (Gal), offers a promising approach for developing antivirals and vaccines against respiratory viruses.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Seasonal outbreaks and novel viruses like COVID-19 necessitate new antiviral strategies.
  • Antiviral drug resistance poses a significant public health challenge.
  • Host-targeted approaches offer a potential alternative to direct antiviral therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To discuss the role of glycans in developing novel drugs and vaccines.
  • To explore glycans as a host-targeted prophylactic strategy against respiratory viruses.
  • To summarize the function of glycans and galectins (Gal) in coronavirus infections for drug design.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review on glycan interactions in viral infections.
  • Analysis of galectins (Gal) as glycan-recognition agents (GRAs).
  • Focus on Gal-1 and Gal-3 interactions with viral glycans.

Main Results:

  • Glycans play a crucial role in viral infections, including coronavirus.
  • Galectins (Gal), such as Gal-1 and Gal-3, are key mediators of glycan-viral interactions.
  • These interactions modulate host immunity and biological homeostasis.

Conclusions:

  • Glycan-based strategies, utilizing galectins, represent a promising avenue for novel antiviral drug and vaccine development.
  • This host-targeted approach may provide protection against current and future respiratory pathogens.
  • Understanding glycan-galectin interactions is vital for combating viral threats.
Keywords:
coronavirusglycan-recognition agentsglycansspike protein

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