Lectins in diagnostic microbiology

Abstract

Current literature suggests that lectins are becoming valuable reagents for the laboratory identification of infectious agents. The identification of bacteria, fungi, or protozoa may be confirmed if they bind to or agglutinate with certain lectins. Assay kits utilizing specific lectin agglutination reactions, coupled with conventional enzyme determinations, have been proposed for several bacteria. Factors such as specificity, stability, assay rapidity, and costs combine to make lectins attractive diagnostic reagents. It is likely that the use of lectins in diagnostic microbiology will continue to grow.

Specialized cell surface structures in cellulolytic bacteria

“…The interaction of C. thermocellum YS with a panel of lectins was performed in the laboratory of R. J. Doyle (8) It is interesting that only one of the above lectins, G. simplicifolia GS-I, and only one of its homotypic isolectins, B4, caused agglutination of C. thermocellum. p-Galactose (1% final concentration) inhibited the agglutination.…”

Lectin typing ofHaemophilus ducreyi

“…Lectins have been used for strain characterization and epidemiological investigation of a large number of bacteria (5, 6), including Neisseria gonorrhoeae (7), and a review of the use of leetins in diagnostic microbiology has been published (8). The reaction between lectins and surface-exposed sugars of bacteria results in specific cell agglutination.…”

Lectin typing of five medically important Candida species

“…The role of lectins in microbiological diagnosis has been reviewed in detail by several authors. 30,31,32,33 In the case of yeasts, lectins bind to a-mannans, which are abundant on the cell surface; 19,21,22,34 studies with C. albicans and ConA indicate that lectin binding is abolished when these sugars are removed by chemical treatment. 20,35 In the present study, all isolates were agglutinated by ConA, LCA and PSA, all of which bind to a-D-mannose.…”