Research progress of griffithsin

Abstract:

Griffithsin, originally isolated from Griffithsia spp. marine red algae., is a broad-spectrum antiviral lectin that inhibits viral entry through binding to viral glycoproteins. Drugs that inhibit virus's entry prevent infection of cells by cell-free virus particles and also prevent virus transmission between virus-infected and uninfected cells. Besides, griffithsin also has the advantages of good solubility, easy expression, strong stability, low immunogenicity and good safety. Thus, griffithsin, as a new potential class of antiviral drugs, has got the favor of scientists.

Key words:lectin;viral envelope glycoproteins;antiviral;safety