Abstract
Lectins including flowering plant lectins, algal lectins, cyanobacterial lectins, actinomycete lectin, worm lectins, and the nonpeptidic lectin mimics pradimicins and benanomicins, exhibit anti-HIV activity. The anti-HIV plant lectins include Artocarpus heterophyllus (jacalin) lectin, concanavalin A, Galanthus nivalis (snowdrop) agglutinin-related lectins, Musa acuminata (banana) lectin, Myrianthus holstii lectin, Narcissus pseudonarcissus lectin, and Urtica diocia agglutinin. The anti-HIV algal lectins comprise Boodlea coacta lectin, Griffithsin, Oscillatoria agardhii agglutinin. The anti-HIV cyanobacterial lectins are cyanovirin-N, scytovirin, Microcystis viridis lectin, and microvirin. Actinohivin is an anti-HIV actinomycete lectin. The anti-HIV worm lectins include Chaetopterus variopedatus polychaete marine worm lectin, Serpula vermicularis sea worm lectin, and C-type lectin Mermaid from nematode (Laxus oneistus). The anti-HIV nonpeptidic lectin mimics comprise pradimicins and benanomicins. Their anti-HIV mechanisms are discussed.
Highlights
In the last few decades, Africa remains the continent which has been afflicted to the most serious extent by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) pandemic, the number of infections elsewhere, for instance in Asia, has been on the rise [1]
Cyanovirin-N is a bacterial protein that is produced by the cyanobacterium Nostoc ellipsosporum that shows virucidal activity against several viruses [7,74]. It is an entry inhibitor of HIV [75]. It was discovered during a screening program in the search for naturally occurring virucidal agents that may be developed into anti-HIV microbicides
Specific and potent anti-HIV activity is produced by cooperative binding of three segments of actinohivin to three high mannose-type glycans (HMTGs) of HIV-1 gp120
Summary
In the last few decades, Africa remains the continent which has been afflicted to the most serious extent by the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the number of infections elsewhere, for instance in Asia, has been on the rise [1]. Many children die from relatively preventable causes, especially in places where there is a high incidence of HIV infections/AIDS [2]. The search for plant extracts with anti-HIV activity is continuing [3]. Polysaccharides [4] and other compounds [5] have been proposed or used for treatment. Lectins have been extensively studied because they possess a variety of potentially exploitable activities. The purpose of this article is to review lectins with anti-HIV activity
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