Since its publication in 2014 in the journal Life Sciences, Elsevier, the article "Influence of sulphate on the composition and antibacterial and antiviral properties of the exopolysaccharide from Porphyridium cruentum" of researchers Filomena Raposo, Alcina Bernardo and Rui Morais was downloaded / viewed more 600 times. This illustrates the interest and demand for new natural products of marine origin, in particular from microalgae, with therapeutic activities, and potential application in biomedicine, among others.

In contrast to animal products, the compounds obtained from algae, such as exo-polysaccharide (EPS) of microalga Porphyridium cruentum, have the advantage of not having contamination by viral and / or prion particle, in addition to relative ease of production and manipulation of microalgae and in this particular case, EPS extraction from the culture medium.

The article describes the work carried out under the guidance of Prof. Rui Morais, who evaluates the effect of the enrichment of the culture medium in the production and physicochemical characteristics and rheological EPS, and ascertain whether the changes will impact on their biological activity. It was found that, in general, EPS with higher degree of sulfation have higher antiviral activity. The EPS of P. cruentum showed activity against several viruses, including herpes viruses type 1 and 2 and vesicular stomatitis virus and against the bacteria S. enteritidis.

Those interested in accessing the article may contact Filomena Raposo.