Interaction of lectins with Neisseria gonorrhoeae

Abstract

Fifty-four strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae were examined for their ability to be agglutinated by various lectins. Wheat germ agglutinin, ricin, soybean lectin, and peanut agglutinin agglutinated all strains tested. Dolichos biflorus, Sophora japonica, Maclura pomifera, Ulex Europaeus, Lens culinaris, Canavalia ensiformis, Phaseolus lunatus, and Bandeiraea simplicifolia BS I and BS II lectins either failed to agglutinate or agglutinated some strains but not others. Agglutination of gonococci by wheat germ agglutinin, ricin, and soybean lectin is sugar specific and most effectively inhibited by ligands known to interact with lectin combining sites. Lectin reactive groupings appear to be independent of antigenic determinants conferring Gc serogroup specificity. Interactions with wheat germ agglutinin and ricin suggest the occurrence of multiple beta-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (D-GlcNAc) and beta-D-galactosyl (beta-D-Gal) units as common structural features of gonococcal cell envelope polysaccharide. Interactions with soybean agglutinin, peanut agglutinin, and Dolichos biflorus lectins suggest that alpha-N-acetyl-D-galactosamine (alpha-D-GalNAc) units and beta-D-Gal linked to GalNAc and (or) GlcNAc may also occur as structural features of the polysaccharide components of the cell envelope of some gonococci.

Composition and antigenic activity of the oligosaccharide moiety of Haemophilus influenzae type b lipooligosaccharide

“…Lectins derived from Ricinus communis A, peanut, soybean, concanavalin A, Dolichos biflorus, and wheat germ were kindly provided by Peter Z. Allen, Department of Microbiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, N.Y. The origin of these lectins has been described previously (3). The reported specificity (16) of the lectins used in this study was confirmed previously by inhibition of bacterial agglutination with increasing amounts of various sugars (3).…”

Lectins and their application to clinical microbiology

“…This review article as well as other reviews on lectins (20, 38, 60, 61, 69, 87, 3,1990 214 SLIFKIN AND DOYLE Chapter), the International Life Sciences Institute, the U.S. Army R and D Command, and the National Institute for Dental Research.…”

“…Recent studies, using dot filtration followed by a wash with colloidal gold-lectin and buffer, has made it possible to VOL. 3,1990 204 SLIFKIN AND DOYLE (34) found that the lipopolysaccharide of N. gonorrhoeae, but not nonpathogenic neisseriae, contained an epitope consisting of N-acetylglucosamine and N-acetylgalactosamine. This antigen was reactive with wheat germ agglutinin and may be associated with the lectin agglutination reaction.…”

“…Eaves and Doyle VOL. 3,1990 206 SLIFKIN AND DOYLE b Lectin sources and specificities are given in Table 1. Also see Table 1 for explanation of lectin abbreviations.…”

Surface Antigens of Gonococci: Correlation with Virulence and Serum Resistance

“…(1980). Allen et al (1980) demonstrated the presence of sugars on the gonococcal surface with terminals corresponding with the specificity of WgA (N-acetyl-Dglucosamine) using an agglutination technique. They showed these sugars in the LPS and in the LPS derived acidic polysaccharides described by Apicella (1974Apicella ( , 1976 and suggested that lectin binding is mediated by LPS, involving elements of common core structure.…”