Chapter 22 - Antiviral biomolecules from marine inhabitants

ABSTRACT

In recent years, the healthcare community has faced challenges with viral infections, which they believe pose a significant threat to humanity. Because of the emergence and reemergence of these viral diseases, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there is an urgent need for novel drug discovery and potential antiviral therapeutics to combat these situations. Scientists are increasing focusing on marine-derived biomaterials, which have been shown to have a variety of effective antiviral activities, although there is some lag. This chapter highlights some of the studies that have been conducted on the antiviral activities of polysaccharides and antimicrobial peptides derived from marine organisms. It will specifically recall the antiviral activities of peptides and sulfated polysaccharides derived from the marine environment, such as tachyplesin, polyphemusin, chitin, chitosan, carrageenans, alginates, and fucans, among others. Furthermore, recent findings on the anti-SARS-CoV-2 action of some marine polysaccharides are also briefly summarized.