Isolation and characterization of new GalNAc/Gal-specific lectin from the sea mussel Crenomytilus grayanus.

A lectin, Crenomytilus grayanus (CGL), was purified from sea mussel C. grayanus by affinity chromatography on acid-treated Sepharose 6B and following gel filtration on Sephacryl S-200. Molecular weight of the lectin obtained was determined by SDS-PAGE to be 18,000, independent of the presence or absence of beta-mercaptoethanol. CGL was found to agglutinate all types of the human erythrocytes together with mouse and rabbit. In hemagglutination inhibition assays, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, D-galactose, and D-talose were the most potent inhibitors among the monosaccharides tested. Out of the oligosaccharides containing nonreducing terminal D-galactose, melibiose, and raffinose were found to be strong inhibitors. On the other hand, among the glycoproteins, asialo-BSM was the best inhibitor. The hemagglutinating activity of CGL was independent of the divalent cations Ca2+ and Mg2+. Significant CGL activity was observed between pH 8-10.

[The lectin activity of mytilan, a bioglycan from mussels, and its effect on microbial adhesion to macroorganism cells]. / Lektinovaia aktivnost' mitilana, biokligana iz midii, i ee vliianie na adgeziiu mikrobov k kletkam makroorganizma.

One of the mechanisms of the protective action of a bioglycan isolated from the mantle of mussels of the species Crenomytalus grayanus in bacterial infections has been studied. The preparation under study has been found to possess the activity of galactose-specific lectin and considerably decreases the adhesive properties of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results of this investigation open prospects for further study of this bioglycan as an agent preventing bacterial colonization in infectious diseases.

[Effect of mytilane, a bioglycan from the mussel Crenomytilus grayanus, on the course and outcome of experimental flu infection]. / Vliianie mitilana--bioglikana iz midii Crenomytilus grayanus na techenie i iskhod éksperimental'noi grippoznoi infektsii.

Materials characterizing the antiviral activity of Mytilane, manifested by the protection of 50-60% of mice infected with the lethal dose of influenza virus and by a decrease in the severity of pathological changes in the lungs of mice, are presented. The inhibiting activity of Mytilane with respect to the reproduction of influenza virus in vivo and in vitro under experimental conditions is demonstrated.

The structure of mytilan, a bioglycan-immunomodulator isolated from the mussel Crenomytilus grayanus.

Mytilan, isolated from the mantle of the mussel Crenomytilus grayanus and which possesses high immunomodulating activity, is a non-covalently linked complex of a polysaccharide (95%) and protein (5%) with lectin activities. Chromatography of mytilan on agarose separated the polysaccharide and protein constituents. The protein appeared to have the lectin properties. Methylation analysis, Smith degradation, digestion with alpha-amylase, and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy showed the polysaccharide to be a glycogen-like alpha-D-glucan.

[The immunomodulating action of mytilan in an experimental influenza infection]. / Immunomoduliruiushchee deistvie mitalana pri éksperimental'noi grippoznoi infektsii.

The materials characterizing the immunomodulating activity of mytilan, a bioglycane from an industrial object of Japanese sea, Crenomytilus grayanus, in experimental influenza infection are presented. The preparation protected up to 60% of mice intranasally inoculated with influenza virus, and significantly inhibited influenza virus reproduction. It induced interferon (possibly gamma IF) synthesis in low titres. The immunomodulating effect of mytilan consisted in stimulation of specific antibody genesis, enhancement of chemotaxis, increasing oxidation-reduction activity, enhancement of expression of Fc gamma-receptors by splenocytes and macrophages, enhancement of antibody-dependent spleen cell cytotoxicity, increased activity of natural killer cells, as well as increased complementary activity of blood serum and enhanced expression of C3 receptors by mouse spleen cells.

[Effect of mytilan--a polysaccharide from Crenomytilus grayanus--on local suppurative processes]. / Vliianie mitilana--polisakharida iz Crenomytilus grayanus na mestnyi gnoinyi protsess.

The study on the effect of mytilan on the local suppurative processes caused by administration of a virulent staphylococcal culture to the mouse pad showed that this polysaccharide isolated from Crenomytilus grayanus had a pronounced antiexudative and antinecrotic effect. The positive results of the experiments may be explained by stimulation of the phagocytic activity of polymorphonuclear leukocytes and macrophages by mytilan which results in acceleration of the reparative processes in local staphylococcal infection. Hence, nonspecific stimulation of the defense mechanisms in local suppurative infection by mytilan and its antiexudative and antinecrotic effect are promising for investigation of the possibility of the mytilan clinical use.