Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026
04:41
Plaquing of Herpes Simplex Viruses
Published on: November 5, 2021
7.0K
Marine Derived Natural Products: Emerging Therapeutics Against Herpes Simplex Virus Infection
Vaibhav Tiwari1, James Elste1, Chunyu Wang2
1Department of Microbiology & Immunology, College of Graduate Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA.
Biomolecules
|January 28, 2026
Summary
Marine natural products offer novel antiviral strategies against herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2). These compounds disrupt viral replication and enhance immunity, providing a promising alternative to current treatments facing resistance.
Area of Science:
- Marine biology
- Virology
- Natural product chemistry
Background:
- Herpes simplex viruses (HSV-1 and HSV-2) cause lifelong infections with varied clinical outcomes, including severe neurological conditions and increased HIV susceptibility.
- Current treatments like acyclovir are limited by antiviral resistance, toxicity, and inability to eradicate latent virus.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential of marine natural products as next-generation antivirals against HSV.
- To highlight the diverse mechanisms and structural scaffolds of marine compounds targeting HSV.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on marine-derived compounds with anti-HSV activity.
- Analysis of reported mechanisms of action, including inhibition of viral entry, replication, and egress.
- Assessment of immune-modulating effects of marine natural products.
Main Results:
- Marine polysaccharides, glycans, peptides, alkaloids, and microbial metabolites show potent, multi-targeted anti-HSV activity.
- These compounds act via novel mechanisms distinct from nucleoside analogues.
- Marine agents interfere with viral attachment, fusion, replication, and egress, and modulate host immunity.
Conclusions:
- Marine natural products represent a rich source of novel scaffolds for developing next-generation HSV therapeutics.
- These compounds offer a promising alternative to overcome limitations of existing antiviral drugs.
- Further research into marine-derived compounds could reshape the future of HSV treatment.
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