title: Antimicrobial lectin from Schinus terebinthifolius leaf.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Schinus terebinthifolius leaves are used for treating human diseases caused by micro-organisms. This work reports the isolation, characterization and antimicrobial activity of S. terebinthifolius leaf lectin (SteLL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The isolation procedure involved protein extraction with 0.15 mol l(-1) NaCl, filtration through activated charcoal and chromatography of the filtrate on a chitin column. SteLL is a 14-kDa glycopeptide with haemagglutinating activity that is inhibited by N-acetyl-glucosamine, not affected by ions (Ca(2+) and Mg(2+)) and stable upon heating (30-100 °C) as well as over the pH 5.0-8.0. The antimicrobial effect of SteLL was evaluated by determining the minimal inhibitory (MIC), bactericide (MBC) and fungicide (MFC) concentrations. Lectin was active against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus. Highest bacteriostatic and bactericide effects were detected for Salm. enteritidis (MIC: 0.45 μg ml(-1)) and Staph. aureus (MBC: 7.18 μg ml(-1)), respectively. SteLL impaired the growth (MIC: 6.5 μg ml(-1)) and survival (MFC: 26 μg ml(-1)) of Candida albicans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SteLL, a chitin-binding lectin, purified in milligram quantities, showed antimicrobial activity against medically important bacteria and fungi.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  SteLL can be considered as a new biomaterial for potential antimicrobial applications.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: F S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Gomes
authors.forename: T F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Procópio
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Napoleão
authors.forename: L C B B
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: P M G
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Paiva
mesh_terms: D027926:Anacardiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006384:Hemagglutination; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D037121:Plant Lectins / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts; D037121:Plant Lectins