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Published on: July 11, 2015
Lectin of Bacillus subtilis sp. as overinducer of gamma-interferonogenesis
Ia H Kishko1, M I Vasylenko, V S Pidhors'kyĭ
1Institute of Microbiology and Virology, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv.
Insights
Bacillus subtilis lectin effectively induces high levels of gamma-interferon (IFN) in mice, comparable to other lectins. Unpurified bacterial lectins yield the highest gamma-IFN titers in vivo.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Gamma-interferon (IFN) is a crucial cytokine involved in immune responses.
- Lectins are proteins that bind carbohydrates and can modulate immune cell activity.
- Bacterial lectins represent a potential source for novel immunomodulatory agents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the efficacy of Bacillus subtilis lectin in inducing gamma-IFN production against established lectins.
- To determine optimal conditions for gamma-IFN induction using bacterial lectins in different species.
- To investigate the impact of bacterial lectin purification levels on gamma-IFN induction.
Main Methods:
- Experimental induction of gamma-IFN in CBA mice using Bacillus subtilis lectin, Con A, PHA, and Laburnum anagyroides lectin.
- Determination of gamma-IFN titers in blood serum via established assays.
- Optimization of swine immunocyte suspension density for maximal gamma-IFN synthesis.
- Comparative analysis of gamma-IFN induction using non-purified, half-purified, and purified bacterial lectins in mice.
- In vivo and in vitro validation of findings across species including swine, cattle, and humans.
Main Results:
- Bacillus subtilis lectin induced maximal gamma-IFN titers (153.6 +/- 17.0 IU/ml) in mice within 4 hours, comparable to Laburnum anagyroides lectin.
- Con A and PHA induced lower gamma-IFN titers compared to Bacillus subtilis and Laburnum anagyroides lectins.
- Optimal swine immunocyte suspension density for gamma-IFN synthesis was 2.5 x 10^7 cells/ml, yielding a titer of 1:2150.
- Non-purified Bacillus subtilis lectin resulted in the highest gamma-IFN titers in mice, with titers 4 times lower for half-purified and purified lectins.
- Results were consistent across in vivo mouse studies and in vitro induction in swine, cattle, and human immunocytes.
Conclusions:
- Bacillus subtilis lectin is a potent inducer of gamma-IFN, offering an alternative to conventional lectins.
- The level of purification significantly affects the immunomodulatory activity of bacterial lectins.
- Bacterial lectins demonstrate broad applicability for gamma-IFN induction across various mammalian species.
Abstract:
It has been demonstrated experimentally that lectin of Bacillus subtilis sp. in comparison with generally accepted Con A, PHA and lectin of "gold rain" grass--Laburnum anagyroides M e d i k in trials on white mice of CBA line gave in 4 hours of induction maximal titers of gamma-IFN in blood serum of animals--153.6 +/- 17.0 IU/ml. Practically identical titers had been obtained after induction by lectin "gold rain", some lower--after Con A and PHA. At swine gamma-IFN synthesis optimal density of cell suspension must contain 2.5 + 10(7) immunocytes in 1 ml, owing to which it is possible to obtain the titer equal 1 : 2150. Materials with using of bacterial lectins at various degree of purification had shown that maximal titers in blood serum of mongrel white mice were registered at administration to animals of non-purified lectin, 4 times lower--at using of half-purified and purified lectins. Data of these trials in vivo were confirmed by materials of gamma-IFN induction by immunocytes of swine, cattle and even man.

