Antiviral peptides from aquatic organisms: Functionality and potential inhibitory effect on SARS-CoV-2

Tofael Ahmed Sumon; Md Ashraf Hussain; Mahmudul Hasan; Aminur Rashid; Muyassar Hamid Abualreesh; Won Je Jang; S M Sharifuzzaman; Christopher Lyon Brown; Eun-Woo Lee; Md Tawheed Hasan

doi:10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.736783

Antiviral peptides from aquatic organisms: Functionality and potential inhibitory effect on SARS-CoV-2

Aquaculture. 2021 Aug 30:541:736783. doi: 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2021.736783. Epub 2021 Apr 15.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Department of Fish Health Management, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh.
² Department of Fisheries Technology and Quality Control, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh.
³ Department of Pharmaceuticals and Industrial Biotechnology, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh.
⁴ Department of Aquaculture, Sylhet Agricultural University, Sylhet 3100, Bangladesh.
⁵ Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Science, King Abdulaziz University, P.O. Box 80207, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Biopharmaceutical Engineering Major, Division of Applied Bioengineering, Dong-Eui University, Busan 47340, Republic of Korea.
⁷ Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Chittagong, Chittagong 4331, Bangladesh.
⁸ FAO World Fisheries University Pilot Programme, Pukyong National University, Busan, South Korea.

Abstract

Several antiviral peptides (AVPs) from aquatic organisms have been effective in interfering with the actions of infectious viruses, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 and Herpes Simplex Virus-1 and 2. AVPs are able to block viral attachment or entry into host cells, inhibit internal fusion or replication events by suppressing viral gene transcription, and prevent viral infections by modulating host immunity. Therefore, as promising therapeutics, the potential of aquatic AVPs for use against the COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) is considered. At present no therapeutic drugs are yet available. A total of 32 AVPs derived from fish and shellfish species are discussed in this review paper with notes on their properties and mechanisms of action in the inhibition of viral diseases both in humans and animals, emphasizing on SARS-CoV-2. The molecular structure of novel SARS-CoV-2 with its entry mechanisms, clinical signs and symptoms are also discussed. In spite of only a few study of these AVPs against SARS-CoV-2, aquatic AVPs properties and infection pathways (entry, replication and particle release) into coronaviruses are linked in this paper to postulate an analysis of their potential but unconfirmed actions to impair SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans.

Keywords: Antiviral peptides; Aquatic organism; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Virus.

Publication types

Review