Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 12, 2026

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions
12:22

Biomimetic Materials to Characterize Bacteria-host Interactions

Published on: November 16, 2015

Mannose-binding lectin binds to a range of clinically relevant microorganisms and promotes complement deposition

O Neth1, D L Jack, A W Dodds

  • 1Immunobiology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom.

Infection and Immunity
|January 20, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is crucial for innate immunity. This study shows MBL binds strongly to key pathogens like Candida and Staphylococcus, aiding immune defense in immunocompromised children.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is a key component of the innate immune system.
  • Low MBL levels are associated with increased susceptibility to infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the binding of MBL to various pathogens commonly found in immunocompromised children.
  • To assess MBL's ability to promote complement activation.

Main Methods:

  • Purified MBL was used to analyze binding to clinical isolates via flow cytometry.
  • Complement C4 deposition was measured to assess MBL's functional activity.

Main Results:

  • Strong MBL binding was observed for Candida species, Aspergillus fumigatus, Staphylococcus aureus, and beta-hemolytic group A streptococci.
  • Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, and Haemophilus influenzae type b showed heterogeneous binding.
  • Beta-hemolytic group B streptococci, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus epidermidis exhibited low MBL binding.
  • Bound MBL effectively promoted complement C4 deposition in a dose-dependent manner.

Conclusions:

  • MBL plays a significant role in the initial immune defense against a range of important human pathogens.
  • These findings highlight MBL's potential as a therapeutic target for infections in immunocompromised individuals.

More Related Videos

High-resolution Melting PCR for Complement Receptor 1 Length Polymorphism Genotyping: An Innovative Tool for Alzheimer's Disease Gene Susceptibility Assessment07:26

High-resolution Melting PCR for Complement Receptor 1 Length Polymorphism Genotyping: An Innovative Tool for Alzheimer's Disease Gene Susceptibility Assessment

Published on: July 18, 2017

Engineering Antiviral Agents via Surface Plasmon Resonance13:00

Engineering Antiviral Agents via Surface Plasmon Resonance

Published on: June 14, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Selectins01:25

Selectins

Cell adhesion is  an essential aspect of multicellularity. While stable cell interactions usually occur between cells of the same type, transient cell interactions occur between cells of different tissue types, such as between neutrophils and endothelial cells. Selectins are one class of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) that bind carbohydrate ligands to form transient cell adhesion. They are rod-like proteins with a long extracellular part of variable length ending with the lectin domain, which...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules01:31

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Antibody Actions01:26

Antibody Actions

Antibodies, or immunoglobulins, are critical players in the immune system's arsenal against invading pathogens. Produced by B cells and plasma cells, their primary role is to detect and bind to specific antigens, molecules found on the surface of pathogens like bacteria or viruses. Beyond antigen recognition, antibodies perform several vital functions that contribute to immune defense.
Neutralization
Antibodies can bind to pathogens, preventing them from infecting host cells. This process...
Complement System01:27

Complement System

The complement system is a group of approximately 20 plasma proteins that strengthen the body's defenses against infections through opsonization, inflammation, and cell lysis. Opsonization involves coating pathogens with complement proteins, making them more recognizable and facilitating phagocyte engulfment. Certain complement proteins induce inflammation that attracts immune cells to the site of infection. Cell lysis involves the destruction of pathogens through the formation of a membrane...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...