Title:Antimicrobial Sulfated Glycans: Structure and Function
Volume: 17
Issue: 3
Author(s): Vitor H. Pomin
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Antibacterial, Antifungal, Antiprotozoan, Antiviral, Carbohydrate-based drug discovery, Carbohydrate-based drug
development, Glycosaminoglycans, Sulfated glycans.
Abstract: Owing to their inherent structural features, certain sulfated glycans isolated from terrestrial or
marine mammals or invertebrates, can exert therapeutic properties against infections caused by pathogenic
microorganisms like bacteria, virus, fungus, and protozoan parasites. These sulfated glycans belong to a variety
of classes including glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) like chondroitin sulfate, fucosylated chondroitin sulfate,
dermatan sulfate, unfractionated heparin, low-molecular-weight heparin, and acharan sulfate; and the
less-famous algal polysaccharides known as sulfated fucans (including fucoidans), sulfated galactans (agarans
and carrageenans), and sulfated heteropolysaccharides. Administration at certain concentrations of the
antimicrobial sulfated glycans, especially those containing the higher amounts of the bioactive structural
requirements, can lead to the interruption or disruption of the pathogen protein-host GAG complex formation,
leading thus to the decrease or impairment of the microbial binding onto host cells. This report aims at
presenting the current background concerning the therapeutic effects of the above-mentioned sulfated glycans
as new antimicrobial agents. When sufficient data are available, discussion regarding structure-activity
relationship is provided.
