Free, monovalent, SLeX (Neu5Ac alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4(Fuc alpha 1-3)-GlcNAc), SLn (Neu5Ac alpha 2-3Gal beta 1-4GlcNAc) and corresponding BSA-conjugated forms--displaying different ratios of SLeX and SLn to protein--were tested for their ability to inhibit binding of HL-60 cells to immobilized E-selectin. Free SLeX and conjugated SLeX-BSA inhibited cell binding in a dose-dependent manner. SLn and SLn-BSA did not inhibit binding. SLeX16BSA (16 mol tetrasaccharide/mol BSA) and monovalent SLeX inhibited cell binding with measured inhibitory concentrations (IC50S) of 1 microM and 1 mM, respectively, demonstrating a three-order-of-magnitude enhancement of inhibitory activity with the multivalent form of SLeX. A SLex7BSA conjugate was 10-fold less potent than those with 11 or 16 mol SLeX/mol BSA. An assay which measured neutrophil rolling on interleukin (IL)-1 beta-activated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) showed 50% reduction in the number of rolling neutrophils in the presence of 1 microM SLeX16BSA, whereas the level of free, monovalent SLeX oligosaccharide required to produce the same effect was approximately 0.3 mM. SLeX-BSA was found to be an excellent reagent for staining endothelial cells expressing E-selectin. Biotinylated SLeX-BSA in conjunction with Texas red avidin-stained lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated HUVECs, and co-incubation of activated cells with anti-E-selectin, specifically blocked staining. The distribution of E-selectin, as determined by binding of SLeX-BSA, was virtually identical with that obtained by binding of anti-E-selectin antibody.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The in vitro antibacterial activity of three well-known brands of medicated soaps available in local market of Rawalpindi was conducted by agar well diffusion and agar disc diffusion methods. Reference bacterial strains like Escherichia coli (ATCC25922), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923) and Salmonella typhi (ATCC 6539) were treated with three different concentrations of 50 mg mL-1 , 100 mg mL-1 and 150 mg mL-1 each soaps. Three different soaps of brand name Safeguard manufactured by Procter and Gamble Pakistan, Lifebuoy manufactured by Unilever Pakistan and Dettol manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan Limited. All brands of soaps gave satisfactory results. Antibacterial activity of these soaps was different from each other. Increasing concentration (150 mg/ mL>100 mg/mL>50 mg/mL) of each showed good result against reference bacterial strain especially against Staphylococcus aureu sand Escherichia coli. Safeguard was much stronger in all the three soaps in their antibacterial activity, while Dettol was moderate in action against these bacterial strains having average inhibition zones. On the other hand Lifebuoy showed least anti-bacterial activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria especially against gram positive bacterial strain.

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