Antibacterial activity of lactose-binding lectins from Bufo arenarum skin.
Amphibians respond to microbial infection through cellular and humoral defense mechanisms such as antimicrobial protein secretion. Most humoral defense proteins are synthetized in the skin. In this study we isolated two beta-galactoside-binding lectins with molecular weights of 50 and 56 KDa from the skin of Bufo arenarum. These lectins have significant hemagglutination activity against trypsinized rabbit erythrocytes, which was inhibited by galactose-containing saccharides. They are water-soluble and independent of the presence of calcium. The antimicrobial analysis for each lectin was performed. At mumolar concentration lectins show strong bacteriostatic activity against Gram negative bacteria (Escherichia coli K12 4100 and wild strains of Escherichia coli and Proteus morganii) and Gram positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis). The antibacterial activity of these lectins may provide an effective defense against invading microbes in the amphibian Bufo arenarum.
Sánchez Riera
Alicia
A
Departamento de Biología del Desarrollo, Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO) y Universidad Nacional de Tucumán (UNT), Chacabuco 461, (4000) San Miguel de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina. sariera@unt.edu.ar
Daud
Adriana
A
Gallo
Adriana
A
Genta
Susana
S
Aybar
Manuel
M
Sánchez
Sara
S
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002022:Bufo arenarum / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006388:Hemagglutinins / Q000378:metabolism; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism; D037102:Lectins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D011511:Proteus / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D006388:Hemagglutinins; D037102:Lectins; D007785:Lactose