Candida glabrata (CG) is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that initiates infection by binding to host cells via specific lectin-like adhesin proteins. We have previously shown the importance of lectin-oligosaccharide binding in cardiac responses to flow and agonists. Because of the lectinic-oligosaccharide nature of CG binding, we tested the ability of CG to alter the agonist- and flow-induced ...

We report that phagocytosis by human neutrophils of Con A-treated erythrocytes (E-Con A) and nonopsonized Escherichia coli with mannose-binding adhesions is mediated by the Fc gamma receptor bearing the 3G8 epitope. Modulation of Fc receptors by pretreating with aggregated-IgG or with 3G8 anti-Fc gamma receptor mAb markedly inhibited internalization of E-Con A and E. coli without altering their...

Abstract Factor D (FD) is an essential element of the alternative pathway complement system, and it circulates predominantly in cleaved, activated form blood. In resting blood, mannose-binding lectin–associated serine protease 3 (MASP-3) exclusive activator pro-FD. Similarly to FD, MASP-3 also mainly active form. It was not clear, however, how zymogen activated. To decipher its activation mecha...

A novel lectin was isolated from leaves of the Japanese cycad, Cycas revoluta Thunb. (gymnosperm), and its characteristics including amino acid composition, molecular mass, carbohydrate binding specificity and partial amino acid sequences were examined. The inhibition analysis of hemagglutinating activity with various sugars showed that the lectin has a carbohydrate-binding specificity similar ...

In general, carbohydrate-lectin interactions are characterized by high specificity but also low affinity. The main reason for the low affinities are desolvation costs, due to the numerous hydroxy groups present on the ligand, together with the typically polar surface of the binding sites. Nonetheless, nature has evolved strategies to overcome this hurdle, most prominently in relation to carbohy...

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) acts as a serum opsonin in innate immune defense and induces complement activation by the lectin pathway. In humans, low levels of functional serum MBL are caused by the dominant action of three single nucleotide substitutions in exon 1 that disrupt the glycine-rich backbone structure of the protein. The presence of common MBL variant alleles is associated with both...

et al. Caspase inhibition reduces tubular apoptosis and proliferation and slows disease progression in polycystic kidney disease. Development of polycystic kidney disease in juvenile cystic kidney mice: insights into pathogenesis, ciliary abnormalities, and common features with human disease. Magenheimer BS et al. Calcium restriction allows cAMP activation of the B-Raf/ERK pathway, switching ce...

Although thiotrophic symbioses have been intensively studied for the last three decades, nothing is known about the molecular mechanisms of symbiont acquisition. We used the symbiosis between the marine nematode Laxus oneistus and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria to study this process. In this association a monolayer of symbionts covers the whole cuticle of the nematode, except its anterior-most regio...

The plasma protein mannose-binding lectin (MBL) activates the complement system by binding to carbohydrate structures presented by microorganisms and thus could be an important component of the innate immune defence system. We measured MBL in patients with leukaemia who were scheduled to undergo chemotherapy (ie, a population especially susceptible to infection) and related the results to sever...