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The HIV envelope glycoprotein gp120.
From: Targeting the glycans of glycoproteins: a novel paradigm for antiviral therapy

Ribbon diagrams showing the 24 putative N-glycosylation sites (coloured circles) in the HIV-1(IIIB) envelope glycoprotein gp120 according to Kwong et al.123 and Leonard et al.87 a | High-mannose-type (green) and complex or hybrid-type (yellow) glycans. b | The red circles indicate the deleted N-glycosylation sites that appear under pressure from carbohydrate-binding agents (CBAs) (for example, Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA), Hyppeastrum hybrid agglutinin (HHA), Urtica dioica agglutinin (UDA), cyanovirin-N (CV-N), pradimicin A (PRM-A) and the monoclonal antibody 2G12) in more than 30 different mutant virus isolates. The green circles represent glycosylation sites that have not yet been found to be deleted under CBA pressure12



1. CBA with proven anti-HIV activity in cell culture

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Mannose-binding Lectins from Plants

Speaking of SARS, an important study from The Netherlands’ University of Gent studied plant-derived mannose-binding lectins on SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus and the feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV).

The researchers studied known plant lectins from 33 different plants. The researchers utilized Vero E6 cells to determine the ability of these lectins to inhibit the replication of the two viruses.



Those antiviral lectins were successful in inhibiting the replication of the viruses.

Here is the list of the mannose-binding plant lectins that were antiviral against both the SARS and FIPV viruses from the research:

Amaryllis (Hippeastrum hybrid)
Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
Daffodil (Narcissus pseudonarcissus)
Red spider lily (Lycoris radiate)
Leek (Allium porrum)
Ramsons (Allium ursinum)
Taro (Colocasia esculenta)
Cymbidium orchid (Cymbidium hybrid)
Twayblade (Listera ovata)
Broad-leaved helleborine (Epipactis helleborine)
Tulip (Tulipa hybrid)
Black mulberry tree (Morus Nigra)
The other plant lectins that were antiviral against both included:
Tabacco plant (Nicotiana tabacum)
Stinging nettle (Urtica dioica)

In my previous paper, I investigated the research on two species of red algae shown to contain mannose-binding lectins having antiviral properties against herpes, HIV, Hepatitis-C and Ebola, as well as SARS. These viruses have similar glycoprotein envelopes.