title: Water-soluble Moringa oleifera lectin interferes with growth, survival and cell permeability of corrosive and pathogenic bacteria.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This work evaluated the antibacterial activity of a water-soluble Moringa oleifera seed lectin (WSMoL) by evaluating its effect on growth, survival and cell permeability of Bacillus sp., Bacillus cereus, Bacillus pumillus, Bacillus megaterium, Micrococcus sp., Pseudomonas sp., Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas stutzeri and Serratia marcescens. In addition, the effect of lectin on membrane integrity of most sensitive species was also evaluated. All the tested bacteria are able to cause biocorrosion and some are also responsible for human infections.
  
  
  RESULTS
  WSMoL inhibited the bacterial growth, induced agglutination and promoted the leakage of proteins from cells of all strains. Bactericidal effect was detected against Bacillus sp., B. pumillus, B. megaterium, Ps. fluorescens and Ser. marcescens. The bacteriostatic effect of lectin was evident with only 6 h of incubation. Fluorescence microscopy of Ser. marcescens showed that WSMoL caused loss of cell integrity and indicated an anti-biofilm activity of the lectin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WSMoL was active against the bacteria by inhibiting growth and affecting cell permeability. The lectin also interfered with membrane integrity of Ser. marcescens, the most sensitive species.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study indicates that WSMoL was active against bacteria that cause serious problems in both industrial and health sectors. Also, the study contributes for the 'state-of-art' on antibacterial mechanisms of lectins.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Moura
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Napoleão
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Coriolano
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: P M G
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Paiva
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: R C B Q
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica, CCB, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil.
authors.forename: L C B B
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Coelho
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D037102:Lectins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D029588:Moringa oleifera / Q000737:chemistry*; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D037102:Lectins; D010936:Plant Extracts
keywords: Moringa oleifera; Serratia marcescens; antibacterial activity; biocorrosion; lectin; seeds