Isolation and Partial Characterisation of a Novel Lectin from Aegle marmelos Fruit and Its Effect on Adherence and Invasion of Shigellae to HT29 Cells

Abstract

Lectins are a class of ubiquitous proteins/glycoproteins that are abundantly found in nature. Lectins have unique carbohydrate binding property and hence have been exploited as drugs against various infectious diseases. We have isolated one such novel lectin from the fruit pulp of Aegle marmelos. The isolated lectin was partially characterised and its effect against Shigella dysenteriae infection was evaluated. The isolated lectin was found to be a dimeric protein with N-acetylgalactosamine, mannose and sialic acid binding specificity. The effect of Aegle marmelos fruit lectin on the adherence of Shigella dysenteriae to human colonic epithelial cells (HT29 cells) was evaluated by Enzyme Linked Immune Sorbent Assay and invasion was analysed. The protective nature of the Aegle marmelos fruit lectin was assessed by analyzing apoptosis through dual staining method. Aegle marmelos fruit lectin significantly inhibited hemagglutination activity of Shigella and its minimum inhibitory concentration is 0.625 µg/well. Further, at this concentration lectin inhibited Shigella dysenteriae adherence and invasion of HT29 cells and protects the HT29 cells from Shigella dysenteriae induced apoptosis. To conclude, isolated lectin dimeric protein with N-acetylgalactosamine, Mannose and sialic acid binding specificity and inhibits adherence and invasion of Shigellae to HT29 cells thus, protects the host.

Recent Advances in Understanding Enteric Pathogenic Escherichia coli

“…The acquisition of mobile elements, such as the S. flexneri chromosomal pathogenicity island "Shigella resistance locus," which encodes resistance to streptomycin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline, plays a crucial role in the fast evolution of drug-resistant strains (568). Alternatively, plant-based therapeutic approaches such as use of the Aegle marmelos fruit lectin or the essential oil from the Brazilian medicinal plant Cymbopogon martinii have shown promising antimicrobial activity in vitro (569,570).…”

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Investigation of In Vivo Effects of Trichomonas Vaginalis on Visceral Organs

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