JAC Advance Access originally published online on August 12, 2004
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Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2004 54(3):579-581; doi:10.1093/jac/dkh399
JAC vol.54 no.3 © The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 2004; all rights reserved.
Leading article |
Glycodendritic structures: promising new antiviral drugs
1 Grupo de Carbohidratos, Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas, CSIC, Isla de la Cartuja, Americo Vespucio s/n, Sevilla 41092; 2 Laboratorio de Microbiología Molecular, Servicio de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain
* Corresponding author. Tel: +34-95-4489568; Fax: +34-95-4460565; Email: javier.rojo{at}iiq.csic.es
DC-SIGN, a C-type lectin expressed by dendritic cells, is able to recognize high mannosylated glycoproteins at the surface of a broad range of pathogens including viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. For at least some of these agents this interaction appears to be an important part of the infection process. Therefore, this lectin might be considered in the design of new antiviral drugs. In this manner, multivalent carbohydrate systems based on dendrimers and dendritic polymers are promising candidates as antiviral drugs. Boltorn hyperbranched dendritic polymers functionalized with mannose have been used to inhibit DC-SIGN-mediated infection in an Ebola-pseudotyped viral model. Their physiological solubility, lack of toxicity and especially their low price suggest the application of these glycodendritic polymers for possible formulation as microbicides.
Keywords: Boltorn , DC-SIGN , dendrimers , Ebola virus