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Man-specific, GalNAc/T/Tn-specific and Neu5Ac-specific seaweed lectins as glycan probes for the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) coronavirus
Barre, A.; Van Damme, E.J.M.; Simplicien, M.; Benoist, H.; Rougé, P. (2020). Man-specific, GalNAc/T/Tn-specific and Neu5Ac-specific seaweed lectins as glycan probes for the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) coronavirus. Mar. Drugs 18(11): 543. https://hdl.handle.net/10.3390/md18110543
In: Marine Drugs. Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI): Basel. ISSN 1660-3397; e-ISSN 1660-3397, more
Peer reviewed article  

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Keywords
    Rhodophyta [WoRMS]
    Marine/Coastal
Author keywords
    seaweed lectins; red algae; mannose-specific lectins; N-acetylgalactosamine-specific lectins; T/Tn-specific lectins; griffithsin; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19; N-glycosylation; O-glycosylation; high-mannose glycans; glycan probes

Authors  Top 
  • Barre, A.
  • Van Damme, E.J.M., more
  • Simplicien, M.
  • Benoist, H.
  • Rougé, P.

Abstract
    Seaweed lectins, especially high-mannose-specific lectins from red algae, have been identified as potential antiviral agents that are capable of blocking the replication of various enveloped viruses like influenza virus, herpes virus, and HIV-1 in vitro. Their antiviral activity depends on the recognition of glycoprotein receptors on the surface of sensitive host cells-in particular, hemagglutinin for influenza virus or gp120 for HIV-1, which in turn triggers fusion events, allowing the entry of the viral genome into the cells and its subsequent replication. The diversity of glycans present on the S-glycoproteins forming the spikes covering the SARS-CoV-2 envelope, essentially complex type N-glycans and high-mannose type N-glycans, suggests that high-mannose-specific seaweed lectins are particularly well adapted as glycan probes for coronaviruses. This review presents a detailed study of the carbohydrate-binding specificity of high-mannose-specific seaweed lectins, demonstrating their potential to be used as specific glycan probes for coronaviruses, as well as the biomedical interest for both the detection and immobilization of SARS-CoV-2 to avoid shedding of the virus into the environment. The use of these seaweed lectins as replication blockers for SARS-CoV-2 is also discussed.

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