Current trends of lectins from microfungi

Lectins are widespread in nature and have been isolated from plants, animals, microorganisms, and viruses. Although several lectins have been reported from microfungi, many more genera still remain unexplored and their physiological role is also uncertain. Microfungal lectins show wide disparity regarding their specificity to erythrocytes. Only a few lectins display specificity to particular human blood types. In addition, they also show agglutination to various animal erythrocytes. Many lectins from microfungi exhibit stringent specificity to animal glycoproteins, while a few have much more simplified sugar binding properties. The role of few microfungal lectins in host-parasite interactions, as storage proteins, and in growth and morphogenesis has been proposed. The current review focuses on an overview of lectins from microfungi, their specificity towards erythrocytes and carbohydrates, physicochemical characteristics, and their possible role and applications.