Figure 2.

Schematic representation of viral infection (A) and the role of cyanobacterial lectin, cyanovirin (CV-N), in inhibition of viral entry and fusion (B). CV-N blocks the interaction between the viral gp120 and the CD4 receptor on the host cell. It prevents the interaction with the associated co-receptors CXCR4/CCR5. As a consequence, the virus cannot enter into the cell.