''Scytonema varium'' is a cultured
cyanobacterium of the genus ''
Scytonema''.
It is one of many anti viral protein producing
algae
Algae (; singular alga ) is an informal term for a large and diverse group of photosynthetic eukaryotic organisms. It is a polyphyletic grouping that includes species from multiple distinct clades. Included organisms range from unicellular mic ...
. In a similar manner to
Cyanovirin-N
Cyanovirin-N (CV-N) is a protein produced by the cyanobacterium '' Nostoc ellipsosporum'' that displays virucidal activity against several viruses, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The virucidal activity of CV-N is mediated through s ...
from ''
Nostoc Ellipsosporum
''Nostoc'', also known as star jelly, troll’s butter, spit of moon, fallen star, witch's butter (not to be confused with the fungi commonly known as witches' butter), and witch’s jelly, is the most common genus of cyanobacteria found in vari ...
'' and
griffithsin
Griffithsin is a protein isolated from the red algae ''Griffithsia''. It has a 121-amino acid sequence which exhibits a Jacalin-like lectin domain, Jacalin-like lectin fold. Several structures of this protein have been solved by X-ray crystallogra ...
from the red algae ''Griffithsia'', ''Scytonema varium'' secretes the broad-spectrum antiviral protein
scytovirin
Scytovirin is a 95-amino acid antiviral protein isolated from the cyanobacteria ''Scytonema varium''. It has been cultured in ''Escherichia coli, E. coli'' and its structure investigated in detail. Scytovirin is thought to be produced by the bacter ...
which can inactivate both the
HIV virus,
[ and Ebola virus, offering hope of treatment for many diseases with viral ]etiology
Etiology (pronounced ; alternatively: aetiology or ætiology) is the study of causation or origination. The word is derived from the Greek (''aitiología'') "giving a reason for" (, ''aitía'', "cause"); and ('' -logía''). More completely, e ...
(cause). It is currently being investigated as a topical microbicide for HIV prophylaxis.
References
AlgebaseEncyclopedia of life
Nostocales
Bacteria described in 1849
{{cyanobacteria-stub