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Published on: June 25, 2019
Identification and functional characterization of fish-egg lectin in zebrafish
Yashuo Wang1, Lingzhen Bu2, Lili Yang2
1Laboratory for Evolution & Development, Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Department of Marine Biology, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China.
Abstract:
Fish-egg lectins (FELs) are identified in several species of fishes, but their activity and mode of action remain largely unknown in early life stages. Here we showed that zebrafish FEL (zFEL) was a maternal factor, which was capable of interacting with Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and enhancing the phagocytosis of the bacteria by macrophages. Interestingly, microinjection of purified native zFEL into the embryos (resulting in the increase of zFEL in the embryos) markedly promoted the resistance of the embryos to the pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila. Taken together, zFEL appears a maternal immune-relevant molecule capable of defending the developing embryos/larvae from pathogenic attacks.
