title: T-antigen binding lectin with antibacterial activity from marine invertebrate, sea cucumber (Holothuria scabra): possible involvement in differential recognition of bacteria.
abstract: In invertebrates, cellular and humoral components are evolved to maintain their body immunity and integrity. Both these factors respond to different antigens such as microorganisms, vertebrate erythrocytes and foreign proteins. In this article, we report a study of a lectin (HSL) involved in immune response in the echinoderm, sea cucumber (Holothuria scabra). Correlative studies indicate that the expression of this defensive lectin is induced by bacterial challenge, wherein cell wall glycoconjugates of bacteria are involved in lectin induction. HSL showed strong broad spectrum antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Under in vitro conditions, purified HSL mediate agglutination of the test bacteria, there by indicating a possible mode of action in physiological situation.
authors.affiliation: Gene lab, National Institute of Oceanography, Goa 403 004, India; Division of Biochemical Sciences, National Chemical Laboratory, Pune 411 008, India.
authors.forename: Nagaraj M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Gowda
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Goswami
authors.forename: M Islam
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000276:immunology*; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D047332:Holothuria / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D037102:Lectins / Q000276:immunology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000957:Antigens, Viral, Tumor; D037102:Lectins