How Glycobiology Fights Viruses

Larry A. Law

Scientists divide and categorize the immune system into two parts: the innate (general) immune system and the adaptive (specialized) immune system. These two systems work closely together and take on different tasks. The innate immune system is the body's first line of defense against germs entering the body. It responds very quickly and in the same way to all germs and foreign substances. The adaptive immune system takes over if the innate immune system is not able to destroy the invaders. It specifically targets the type of germ that is causing the infection. But to do that it first needs to identify the germ. It has the ability to remember germs. This memory allows the body to become immune. When you catch a disease, the body can remember it and expedite action against it the next time it enters the body. This is how our immune system provides natural protection.

Vaccinations completely ignore the innate immune system, which is our most powerful, general protection. Vaccines synthetically target the adaptive system and try to encourage it to develop an artificial level of immunity to a specific disease. Artificial immunity is never as strong as natural immunity. Natural immunity can be passed from mother to breast-feeding infant while vaccine immunity cannot. A recent glycobiology study has again documented how nature and the things we eat are capable of protecting us from bacterial and viral infections, including coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-2 (responsible for COVID-19).

One of the molecules supporting our innate immune system is called mannose binding lectins (MBLs). MBLs are lectins or glycoproteins capable of attaching to the sugar mannose (D-mannose also L-Fucose & N-acetylglucosamine). These sugars are often the terminal (last) sugar exposed on bacteria and viruses. When our innate immune system sees these exposed sugars, it goes on alert and prepares to take action as needed. The liver produces the majority of MBLs which travel in our blood looking to attach to foreign substances that have these sugars sticking out. Besides the liver, the brain, kidneys, spleen, tonsils, thymus, small intestines, testes, ovaries, and vagina also produce MBLs. Because these other organs also make MBLs, it shows how important they are in local neighborhood defense.  When MBLs attach (bind) to the invader, an immune response is initiated and macrophages are activated to eat or phagocytize the pathogen. Thus, antibodies are not needed and the adaptive immune system is not required. It becomes clear that MBLs in a healthy innate immune system can keep us free of viral infection (including COVID-19).

When the immune system is compromised, problems can occur. However, solutions exist for people willing to change their diet or supplement with plant-based raw materials. Multiple studies have shown that a deficiency in MBLs increases susceptibility to infection including influenza and coronaviruses like SARS-CoV-1. Low levels of MBLs occur in up to 30% of the population and hispanics, blacks, latinos, and asians tend to be the ethnicities most at risk. Only 10-15% of caucasians have an MBL deficiency, which likely contributes to their lower rates of coronavirus infection.

The glycobiology study previously mentioned references studies where various fruits and vegetables were shown to provide MBLs naturally from plants. These plant-sourced MBLs proved highly effective in binding SARS-CoV-1. This binding effectively blocked COVID infection. The study concluded that by increasing consumption of fruits, legumes and alliums (e.g., leeks, onions, shallots, wild garlic, chives, etc.), people could dramatically reduce their risk of COVID-19 naturally without having to depend upon a vaccine. Other effective sources mentioned for MBLs included stinging nettles, black mulberry tree, and the tobacco plant. Many non-legume plant lectins maintain full biological activity after consumption as they are not inactivated by cooking. They resist digestion and enter the circulation virtually intact and ready to support the immune system. Providing the body with natural raw materials to build MBLs can provide protection from COVID-19 (and suchlike viruses).

A recent German study documents how the lowly dandelion can fight COVID-19. A dandelion extract was shown to effectively block the ability of the COVID-19 viral spike protein to bind to human cell receptor sites. Scientists reported "effective inhibition of protein-protein interaction between the human virus cell entry receptor ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 spike, including five relevant mutations." This means that the dandelion extract is effective against COVID-19 and all known COVID-19 variants (mutations), which is something the vaccines cannot claim. This is further proof that a man-made vaccine is unnecessary and that nature already provides the things that heal if only scientists would investigate more fully.  

​In the technical part of the glycobiology study researchers stated, "The SARS-CoV-2 spike subunit S2, which fuses viral and host membranes, share 99% identity with the SARS-CoV-1 S2." This means that both SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 S proteins contain the same receptor binding domain for angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) which allows entry of the coronavirus into human cells. Blocking this spike protein with MBLs prevents viral infection by COVID-19. The spike protein (S) is the main target of antibodies during infection and has been the target for vaccine development. This glycobiology study demonstrates that a vaccine is not necessary to protect against SARS-CoV-2. Beefing up the MBLs circulating within the body is the natural way to effectively combat coronavirus infections. And for those seeking to detoxify from mRNA vaccines, this could be an important approach to aid that process.  The science of glycobiology explains how the human immune system functions and nature has provided the tools needed to fight disease.  ​