Scytovirin | |
---|---|
Identifiers | |
Organism | Scytonema varium (Cyanobacterium) |
Symbol | SVR |
Scytovirin is a 95-amino acid antiviralprotein isolated from thecyanobacteriaScytonema varium.[1] It has been cultured inE. coli and its structure investigated in detail.[2][3][4] Scytovirin is thought to be produced by the bacteria to protect itself from viruses that might otherwise attack it, but as it has broad-spectrum antiviral activity against a range of enveloped viruses, scytovirin has also been found to be useful against a range of major human pathogens, most notablyHIV / AIDS but also includingSARS coronavirus andfiloviruses such asEbola virus andMarburg virus.[5][6][7] While some lectins such ascyanovirin andUrtica dioicaagglutinin are thought likely to be tooallergenic to be used internally in humans, studies so far on scytovirin and griffithsin have not shown a similar level of immunogenicity.[8] Scytovirin and griffithsin are currently being investigated as potentialmicrobicides for topical use.[9]
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