It has already been shown that the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) has 22 N-type glycan modification sites (see, for example, https://science.sciencemag.org/content/369/6501/330.long).
Since SARS-CoV-2 binds strongly to ACE2 receptors, the binding strength of Mannose and GlcNAc-specific lectins was evaluated with molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation, targeting the glycan (Man3GlcNAc2Fuc) present in RBD’s Asn343 in the S1 sub unit of the S protein, and evaluated its potential as an antiviral reagent.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33292056/
The lectins compared were as follows, and BanLec showed the highest binding strength.
BanLec: -105.99kcal/mol
NPA: -79kcal/mol
GRFT: -73.7kcal/mol
CV-N: -67.3kcal/mol
UDA: -98.3kcal/mol
Lectins, however, generally show side effects such as mitogenicity, hemagglutination, inflammation, etc., so confirmation with in vivo is essential.
