scholarly journals ANTIVIRAL PROPERTIES OF MICROALGAE AND CYANOBACTERIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Spl-1- GCSGD_2020) ◽  
pp. S43-S48
Author(s):  
Manishaa Sri Mahendran ◽  
◽  
Sinouvassane Djearamane ◽  
Ling Shing Wong ◽  
Govindaraju Kasivelu ◽  
...  

The recent outbreak of Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) and the surge in accelerating the development of a vaccine to fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus has imposed greater challenges to humanity worldwide. There is lack of research into the production of effective vaccines and methods of treatment against viral infections. As of now, strategies encompassing antiviral drugs and corticosteroids alongside mechanical respiratory treatment are in practice as frontline treatments. Though studies have reported that microalgae possess antiviral properties, only a few cases have presented the existence of antiviral compounds such as algal polysaccharides, lectins, aggluttinins, scytovirin, algal lipids such as sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG), monogalactosyldiacylglycerides (MGDG) and digalactosyldiacylglycerides (DGDG), and algal biopigments especially chlorophyll analogues, marennine, phycobiliproteins, phycocyanin, phycoerythrin and allophycocyanin that are derived from marine and freshwater microalgae. Given the chemodiversity of bioactive compounds from microalgae and the present scenario, algal biotechnology is seen as a prospective source of antiviral and anti-inflammatory compounds that can be used to develop antiviral agents. Microalgae with potential as antivirals and microalgae derived functional compounds to treat viral diseases are summarized and can be used as a reference in developing algae-derived antivirals to treat SARS-CoV-2 and other similar viruses.

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucky Mulwa ◽  
Marc Stadler

Viral infections including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) pose an ongoing threat to human health due to the lack of effective therapeutic agents. The re-emergence of old viral diseases such as the recent Ebola outbreaks in West Africa represents a global public health issue. Drug resistance and toxicity to target cells are the major challenges for the current antiviral agents. Therefore, there is a need for identifying agents with novel modes of action and improved efficacy. Viral-based illnesses are further aggravated by co-infections, such as an HIV patient co-infected with HBV or HCV. The drugs used to treat or manage HIV tend to increase the pathogenesis of HBV and HCV. Hence, novel antiviral drug candidates should ideally have broad-spectrum activity and no negative drug-drug interactions. Myxobacteria are in the focus of this review since they produce numerous structurally and functionally unique bioactive compounds, which have only recently been screened for antiviral effects. This research has already led to some interesting findings, including the discovery of several candidate compounds with broad-spectrum antiviral activity. The present review looks at myxobacteria-derived antiviral secondary metabolites.


Author(s):  
Gizem Tatar ◽  
Kemal Turhan

The recent outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in China caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus continually lead to worldwide human infections and deaths. It is currently no specific viral protein targeted therapeutics yet. The nucleocapsid (N) protein of coronaviruses (CoVs) is a multifunctional RNA-binding protein necessary for viral RNA replication and transcription. Therefore, it is a potential antiviral drug target, serving multiple critical functions during the viral life cycle. Herein, we focus here on the potential to repurpose antiviral compounds approved or in development for treating infections caused by human CoVs. For this purpose, we used the docking methodology to better understand the inhibition mechanism of SARS-CoV-2 N protein with this existing 34 antiviral compounds. The results of this analysis were showed that Nafamostat, Rapamycin, Saracatinib, Imatinib and Camostat are the top hit compounds with binding energy (-10.24 kcal/mol, -9.88 kcal/mol, -9.66 kcal/mol, -9.23 kcal/mol, -9.07 kcal/mol) and K i (0.0313 mM, 0.05736 mM, 0.08304 mM, 0.17224 mM, 0.22413 mM). In addition, this analysis also showed that the most common residues that interact with the compounds are Lys65, Phe66, Arg 68, Glu69, Tyr123, Gly124, Lys127, Ile 130, Val133 and Ala134. These results suggest that these residues are potential drug targeting sites for the SARS-CoV-2 N protein. Subsequently, protein-ligand complex stability was examined with Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations for the Nafamostat compound, which showed the best binding affinity. According to the results of this study, the interaction between the compound and the crucial residues of the target were maintained. Based on this information, we propose guidelines to develop novel N protein-based antiviral agents that target CoVs.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Madiha Haider ◽  
Vivek Anand ◽  
Dhwani Dholakia ◽  
M Ghalib Enayathullah ◽  
Yash Parekh ◽  
...  

Background: Viral infections have a history of abrupt and severe eruptions through the years in the form of pandemics. And yet, definitive therapies or preventive measures are not present. Purpose: Herbal medicines have been a source of various antiviral compounds. An accelerated repurposing potential of antiviral herbs can provide usable drugs and identify druggable targets. In this study, we dissect the anti-coronavirus activity of Cissampelos pareira L (Cipa). using an integrative approach. Methods: We analyzed the signature similarities between predicted antiviral agents and Cipa using the connectivity map (https://clue.io/). Next, we tested the anti-SARS-COV-2 activity of Cipa in vitro. A three-way comparative analysis of Cipa transcriptome, COVID-19 BALF transcriptome and CMAP signatures of small compounds was also performed. Results: Several predicted antivirals showed a high positive connectivity score with Cipa such as apcidin, emetine, homoharringtonine etc. We also observed 98% inhibition of SARS-COV-2 replication in infected Vero cell cultures with the whole extract. Some of its prominent pure constituents e.g pareirarine, cissamine, magnoflorine exhibited 40-80% inhibition. Comparison of genes between BALF and Cipa showed an enrichment of biological processes like transcription regulation and response to lipids, to be downregulated in Cipa while being upregulated in COVID-19. CMAP also showed that Triciribine, torin-1 and VU-0365114-2 had positive connectivity with BALF 1 and 2, and negative connectivity with Cipa.


2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Russel J Reiter ◽  
Qiang Ma ◽  
Ramaswamy Sharma

This review summarizes published reports on the utility of melatonin as a treatment for virus-mediated diseases. Of special note are the data related to the role of melatonin in influencing Ebola virus disease. This infection and deadly condition has no effective treatment and the published works documenting the ability of melatonin to attenuate the severity of viral infections generally and Ebola infection specifically are considered. The capacity of melatonin to prevent one of the major complications of an Ebola infection, i.e., the hemorrhagic shock syndrome, which often contributes to the high mortality rate, is noteworthy. Considering the high safety profile of melatonin, the fact that it is easily produced, inexpensive and can be self-administered makes it an attractive potential treatment for Ebola virus pathology.  


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 614-627 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. K. Patick ◽  
K. E. Potts

SUMMARY Currently, there are a number of approved antiviral agents for use in the treatment of viral infections. However, many instances exist in which the use of a second antiviral agent would be beneficial because it would allow the option of either an alternative or a combination therapeutic approach. Accordingly, virus-encoded proteases have emerged as new targets for antiviral intervention. Molecular studies have indicated that viral proteases play a critical role in the life cycle of many viruses by effecting the cleavage of high-molecular-weight viral polyprotein precursors to yield functional products or by catalyzing the processing of the structural proteins necessary for assembly and morphogenesis of virus particles. This review summarizes some of the important general features of virus-encoded proteases and highlights new advances and/or specific challenges that are associated with the research and development of viral protease inhibitors. Specifically, the viral proteases encoded by the herpesvirus, retrovirus, hepatitis C virus, and human rhinovirus families are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert W. Cross ◽  
Zachary A. Bornholdt ◽  
Abhishek N. Prasad ◽  
Viktoriya Borisevich ◽  
Krystle N. Agans ◽  
...  

AbstractMonoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and remdesivir, a small-molecule antiviral, are promising monotherapies for many viruses, including members of the genera Marburgvirus and Ebolavirus (family Filoviridae), and more recently, SARS-CoV-2. One of the major challenges of acute viral infections is the treatment of advanced disease. Thus, extending the window of therapeutic intervention is critical. Here, we explore the benefit of combination therapy with a mAb and remdesivir in a non-human primate model of Marburg virus (MARV) disease. While rhesus monkeys are protected against lethal infection when treatment with either a human mAb (MR186-YTE; 100%), or remdesivir (80%), is initiated 5 days post-inoculation (dpi) with MARV, no animals survive when either treatment is initiated alone beginning 6 dpi. However, by combining MR186-YTE with remdesivir beginning 6 dpi, significant protection (80%) is achieved, thereby extending the therapeutic window. These results suggest value in exploring combination therapy in patients presenting with advanced filovirus disease.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamyar Khoshnevisan ◽  
Hassan Maleki ◽  
Hadi Baharifar

Abstract The effectiveness of silver nanomaterials (AgNMs), as antiviral agents, has been confirmed in humans against many different types of viruses. Nanobiocides-based AgNMs can be effectively applied to eliminate coronaviruses (CoVs), as the cause of various diseases in animals and humans, particularly the fatal human respiratory infections. Mostly, these NMs act effectively against CoVs, thanks to the NMs’ fundamental anti-viral structures like reactive oxygen species (ROS), and photo-dynamic and photo-thermal abilities. Particularly, the antiviral activity of AgNMs is clarified under three inhibitory mechanisms including viral entry limitation, attachment inhibition, and viral replication limitation. It is believed that nanobiocide with other possible materials such as TiO2, silica and, carbon NMs exclusively nano-graphene materials can emerge as a more effective disinfectant for long-term stability with low toxicity than common disinfectants. Nanobiocides also can be applied for the prevention and treatment of viral infections specifically against COVID-19. Graphic Abstract


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nan Zhou ◽  
Jinku Bao ◽  
Yuping Ning

Abstract The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in the world is caused by SARS-CoV-2, a new coronavirus firstly discovered in the end of 2019. It has led to more than 10 million confirmed cases and more than 500,000 confirmed deaths across 216 countries by 1 July 2020, according to WHO statistics. SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, and MERS-CoV are alike, killing people, impairing economy, and inflicting long-term impacts on the society. However, no specific drug or vaccine has been approved as a cure for these viruses. The efforts to develop antiviral measures are hampered by insufficient understanding of molecular responses of human to viral infections. In this study, we collected experimentally validated human proteins that interact with SARS-CoV-2 proteins, human proteins whose expression, translation and phosphorylation levels experience significantly changes after SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-CoV infection, human proteins that correlate with COVID-19 severity, and human genes whose expression levels significantly changed upon SARS-CoV-2 or MERS-CoV infection. A database, H2V, was then developed for easy access to these data. Currently H2V includes: 332 human-SARS-CoV-2 protein-protein interactions; 65 differentially expressed proteins, 232 differentially translated proteins, 1298 differentially phosphorylated proteins, 204 severity associated proteins, and 4012 differentially expressed genes responding to SARS-CoV-2 infection; 66 differentially expressed proteins responding to SARS-CoV infection; and 6981 differentially expressed genes responding to MERS-CoV infection. H2V can help to understand the cellular responses associated with SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV infection. It is expected to speed up the development of antiviral agents and shed light on the preparation for potential coronavirus emergency in the future.Database url: http://www.zhounan.org/h2v


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2034
Author(s):  
Zubair Ahmed Ratan ◽  
Fazla Rabbi Mashrur ◽  
Anisha Parsub Chhoan ◽  
Sadi Md. Shahriar ◽  
Mohammad Faisal Haidere ◽  
...  

Since the early 1990s, nanotechnology has led to new horizons in nanomedicine, which encompasses all spheres of science including chemistry, material science, biology, and biotechnology. Emerging viral infections are creating severe hazards to public health worldwide, recently, COVID-19 has caused mass human casualties with significant economic impacts. Interestingly, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) exhibited the potential to destroy viruses, bacteria, and fungi using various methods. However, developing safe and effective antiviral drugs is challenging, as viruses use host cells for replication. Designing drugs that do not harm host cells while targeting viruses is complicated. In recent years, the impact of AgNPs on viruses has been evaluated. Here, we discuss the potential role of silver nanoparticles as antiviral agents. In this review, we focus on the properties of AgNPs such as their characterization methods, antiviral activity, mechanisms, applications, and toxicity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-241
Author(s):  
Ahmet Gökhan Coşkun ◽  
Ayşegül Demircioğlu ◽  
Seran Temelli ◽  
Ayşegül Eyigör

Advances in diagnostic techniques and their widespread use for infectious agents revealed the considerably high current prevalence of viral agents in foodborne and waterborne diseases. Foodborne and waterborne viruses are indicated to cause not only gastroenteritis and hepatitis but also neurological disorders, respiratory tract diseases, myocarditis, glomerulonephritis and hemorrhagic fever, with a particularly high mortality rate in infants/children and in individuals with immune deficiency. Additionally, due to their resistance to environmental conditions and food processes compared to other microorganisms, elimination of these viruses by heat and high pressure applications, natural antiviral compounds, UV applications and conventional cleaning-disinfection remains difficult even inadequate. In protection from viral infections, vaccine applications together with GMP, GHP and HACCP system approaches in production seem to be the most effective approaches to ensure the minimization of viruses in food environment and in public. In this review article, up-to-date information is presented on the general characteristics and the diseases caused by enterotropic viruses; NoV, AstV, RoV, AdV and hepatotropic viruses; HAV and HEV, with a particularly high worldwide prevalence, as well as their epidemiology, prevention and their control measures.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document