Antimicrobial and Antiparasitic Activity of Lectins

Abstract

Antibiotic resistance is a major problem in current contemporary medicine and it has become a major concern of the 21st century. New resistance mechanisms developed by microorganisms spread greatly, threatening the ability to treat numerous infectious diseases, and increasing the number of nosocomial infections. Besides the role in immunology and glycobiology where they are used as hemaglutinine and identification of complex carbohydrates and glycoconjugates, lectins proved to mediate diversified biological functions like cytotoxicity, complement activation, cell-to-cell and host-pathogen communications, innate immune response, and cell-to-cell signalling. Recently, great interest has been developed for the research and applications of lectins in agriculture and medicine due to their antiparasitic and antimicrobial potentials. This review focuses on the recent data regarding the antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities of lectins, by presenting the role of lectins in host-pathogen interaction and also the cytotoxic effects on microorganisms and parasites. Identification and characterisation of new lectins with antimicrobial activity could serve as a natural alternative for the treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and parasites.

Structure-function and application of plant lectins in disease biology and immunity

“…have been reported to be affected by plant lectins due to their ability to act as adjuvants. The anti-parasitic effect of plant lectins is based on their property to bind to specific carbohydrates present in the parasite and thereby cause interference in downstream biological processes (Iordache et al, 2015). However, only a small number of plant lectins demonstrate anti-parasitic activity.…”

The Efficacies of Banana Stem Extract as a Candidate of Coccidiostat Against Rabbit Eimeria Stiedaio Ocysts: an in Vitro Analysis

“…The results showed that crude extracts have significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli (Ningsih et al, 2013). The lectin contains in banana plant stimulates skin cell growth as it correlates with phagocytosis, complement activity, leucocyte extravacation, innate immunity and lymphocyte activation (Iordanche, 2015). As antimicrobial, it is speculated that the mechanism which may affect Eimeria stiedai oocysts like in bacteria is that the agent would prevent the formation or transportation of each component to the cell wall, resulting in the weakening structure followed by discarding cell wall and discharging cell content that eventually mortified or inhibited the growth of bacteria cell (Prasetyo et al, 2010).…”

Looking for alternative treatments for bovine and caprine mastitis: Evaluation of the potential of Calliandra surinamensis leaf pinnulae lectin (CasuL), both alone and in combination with antibiotics

“…The antibacterial activity of lectins has previously been associated with their ability to bind to peptidoglycans, lipopolysaccharides, and other molecules present in the cell wall, and by interfering with cell growth and viability and promoting structural damage (Iordache, Ionita, Mitrea, Fafaneata, & Pop, ; Procópio, Moura, et al, ). However, neither CasuL alone nor the synergistic combinations caused structural alterations, which agree with a predominant bacteriostatic effect.…”