Genome-Wide Mining of Selaginella moellendorffii for Hevein-like Lectins and Their Potential Molecular Mimicry with SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein.

Multidisciplinary research efforts on potential COVID-19 vaccine and therapeutic candidates have increased since the pandemic outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 in 2019. This search has become imperative due to the increasing emergences and limited widely available medicines. The presence of bioactive anti-SARS-CoV-2 molecules was examined from various plant sources. Among them is a group of proteins called lectins that can bind carbohydrate moieties. In this article, we present ten novel, chitin-specific Hevein-like lectins that were derived from Selaginella moellendorffii v1.0's genome. The capacity of these lectin homologs to bind with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 was examined. Using the HDOCK server, 3D-modeled Hevein-domains were docked to the spike protein's receptor binding domain (RBD). The Smo446851, Smo125663, and Smo99732 interacted with Asn343-located complex N-glycan and RBD residues, respectively, with binding free energies of -17.5, -13.0, and -26.5 Kcal/mol. The molecular dynamics simulation using Desmond and the normal-state analyses via torsional coordinate association for the Smo99732-RBD complex using iMODS is characterized by overall higher stability and minimum deformity than the other lectin complexes. The three lectins interacting with carbohydrates were docked against five individual mutations that frequently occur in major SARS-CoV-2 variants. These were in the spike protein's receptor-binding motif (RBM), while Smo125663 and Smo99732 only interacted with the spike glycoprotein in a protein-protein manner. The precursors for the Hevein-like homologs underwent additional characterization, and their expressional profile in different tissues was studied. These in silico findings offered potential lectin candidates targeting key N-glycan sites crucial to the virus's virulence and infection.

A Comprehensive Review on Euphorbiaceae lectins: Structural and Biological Perspectives.

Euphorbiaceae, also known as the spurge family, is a large group of flowering plants. Despite being tropical natives, they are now widespread. Due to its medicinal and commercial importance, this family of plants attracted a lot of attention in the scientific community. The distinctive characteristic of the family is production of milky latex, which is a rich source of several lectins, the proteins that bind carbohydrates. Although their function is unclear, they are believed to defend plants against damaging phytopathogenic microorganisms, insects, and predatory animals. Additionally, they serve as crucial metabolic regulators under a variety of stressors. Detection, separation, purification, and characterization of lectins from the Euphorbiaceae family - mostly from the latex of plants - began over 40 years ago. This effort produced over 35 original research papers that were published. However, no systematic review that compiles these published data has been presented yet. This review summarizes and describes several procedures and protocols employed for extraction and purification of lectins belonging to this family. Physicochemical properties and biological activities of the lectins, along with their medicinal and pharmacological properties, have also been analyzed. Additionally, using examples of ricin and ricin agglutinin, we have structurally analyzed characteristics of the lectin known as Ribosome Inactivating Protein Type II (RIP-Type II) that belongs to this family. We anticipate that this review article will offer a useful compendium of information on this important family of lectins, show the scientists involved in lectin research the gaps in our knowledge, and offer insights for future research.

Genome-wide screening of lectin putative genes from Sorghum bicolor L., distribution in QTLs and a probable implications of lectins in abiotic stress tolerance.

BACKGROUND: Sorghum bicolor is one of the most important crops worldwide with the potential to provide resilience when other economic staples might fail against the continuous environmental changes. Many physiological, developmental and tolerance traits in plants are either controlled or influenced by lectins; carbohydrate binding proteins. Hence, we aimed at providing a comprehensive in silico account on sorghum's lectins and study their possible implication on various desired agronomical traits. RESULTS: We have searched sorghum's genome from grain and sweet types for lectins putative genes that encode proteins with domains capable of differentially binding carbohydrate moieties and trigger various physiological responses. Of the 12 known plant lectin families, 8 were identified regarding their domain architectures, evolutionary relationships, physiochemical characteristics, and gene expansion mechanisms, and they were thoroughly addressed. Variations between grain and sweet sorghum lectin homologs in term of the presence/absence of certain other joint domains like dirigent and nucleotide-binding adaptor shared by APAF-1, R-proteins, and CED-4 (NB-ARC) indicate a possible neofunctionalization. Lectin sequences were found to be preferentially overrepresented in certain quantitative trait loci (QTLs) related to various traits under several subcategories such as cold, drought, salinity, panicle/grain composition, and leaf morphology. The co-localization and distribution of lectins among multiple QTLs provide insights into the pleiotropic effects that could be played by one lectin gene in numerous traits. CONCLUSION: Our study offers a first-time inclusive details on sorghum lectins and their possible role in conferring tolerance against abiotic stresses and other economically important traits that can be informative for future functional analysis and breeding studies.

Isolation and partial characterization of 3 nontoxic d-galactose-specific isolectins from seeds of Momordica balsamina.

Three isolectins denoted hereforth MBaL-30, MBaL-60, and MBaL-80 were isolated from seeds extract of Momordica balsamina by 30%, 60%, and 80% ammonium sulfate saturations, respectively. The native molecular weights of these lectins, as judged by gel filtration, were 108, 56, and 160 kDa, respectively. On SDS-PAGE, under reduced condition, 27 kDa band was obtained for all isolectins. The lectins hemagglutinating activities were variably inhibited by d-galactose (minimum inhibitory concentrations = 12.5mM, 50mM, and 0.391mM, respectively). MBaL-30 and -60 could agglutinate all human blood types with slight preference for the A and O blood groups, whereas MBaL-80 did not agglutinate B and AB blood types. The 3 isolectins were purified from crude seeds extract, collectively, in a single step on the affinity matrix Lactamyl-Seralose 4B; this purified lectin fraction, which contains all isolectins, is termed MBaL. The N-terminal of MBaL till the 25th amino acid was NLSLSELDFSADTYKSFIKNLRKQL, which shares 88% sequence identity with Momordica charantia lectin type-2 ribosomal inactivating protein from Momordica charantia and 50% with momordin II from Momordica balsamina. MBaL retained 100% activity at up to 50°C for 30 minutes. MBaL-30 and MBaL-60 exhibited maximum activities in the pH range between 4 and 8, while MBaL-80 was showing maximum activity in the pH range between 3 and 5. Treatment of MBaL-30 and MBaL-60 with EDTA completely abolished their hemagglutinating activities. Addition of Zn and Fe ions to the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-treated MBaL-30 and MBaL-60 lectins did not only regained the loss of activity but also resulted in 200% to 300% increase in activity, respectively. MBaL-30 and -60 agglutinated gram positive Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus, whereas MBaL-30 could merely agglutinate Escherichia coli. None of these lectins could arrest bacterial growth. Addition of MBaL to cancer cell lines (Gastric cancer cell line (AGS) and Gastric cencer cell line (MKN45), Glioblastoma (ECV-304), and Human urinary bladder cancer cell line (U87-MG)) at varying concentrations did not cause statistically significant changes on cell growth and viability.

Sudan's healthcare crisis: The struggle of kidney patients amidst conflict.

Background and Aim: Conflicts, akin to other crises, disrupt lives and healthcare infrastructure, disproportionately affecting vulnerable individuals. The ongoing Sudanese conflict, initiated on April 15, 2023, between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Force (RSF), triggers significant population displacement, healthcare facility closures, and a scarcity of medical resources. Amid the intense conflict in Khartoum, reports of deceased individuals in the streets heighten concerns about public health, emphasizing the gravity of the situation. This crisis compounds the challenges faced by Sudan's already fragile healthcare system, impacting over 5 million displaced individuals, including those reliant on life-saving hemodialysis sessions. This commentary aims to illuminate the challenges confronting kidney dialysis patients in war-torn Sudan, emphasizing the impact on the Al-Goled hemodialysis center. Methodology: This commentary relies on reports from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN), European Renal Association (ERA), and The International Society of Nephrology (ISN), along with recent journal articles discussing the consequences of ongoing conflicts. Personal observations in Al-Goled contribute to the insights, and data from the Al-Goled hemodialysis center in Sudan illuminate the struggles faced by kidney dialysis patients during the conflict, presented as a case study. Results: Kidney dialysis patients, crucial for regular hemodialysis sessions, confront severe challenges due to the overwhelming conflict. With an estimated 8000 kidney failure patients in Sudan, disruptions in healthcare services, targeted attacks on medical staff, and a shortage of resources exacerbate their plight. The Al-Goled hemodialysis center, initially designed for 30 daily sessions, experiences a surge in demand, accommodating 85 patients daily-an alarming 183% increase. Limited resources, machine malfunctions, and a shortage of medications contribute to the loss of 13 patients' lives. Conclusions: The conflict in Sudan disproportionately impacts kidney dialysis patients, causing disruptions in essential healthcare services. The surge in demand at the Al-Goled center underscores the broader impact on healthcare institutions nationwide. Local efforts to source medical supplies face bureaucratic hurdles and complex exportation procedures, impeding support for kidney patients. Patients, once receiving 3 weekly sessions, now struggle to secure even one, jeopardizing their well-being. Urgent international intervention is needed to cease the conflict and ensure the safety of healthcare facilities, especially for vulnerable populations like kidney dialysis patients.

Lectins of the Araceae family: Insights, distinctions, and future avenues-A three-decade investigation.

The Araceae family boasts >3000 species of flowering plants that thrive across the tropics. Among the focal points of study within this family are lectins, proteins with affinity for binding carbohydrates. This review endeavors to gather data gleaned from numerous studies conducted over the past three decades on lectins extracted from Araceae plants. Our examination spans their extraction and purification methods, their specific interactions with carbohydrates, their molecular structures, and various physicochemical characteristics. Furthermore, we investigated the biological activities of these lectins and investigated the outcomes of cloning their genes. Despite their apparent similarities, these lectins exhibit notable distinctions, particularly regarding their unique preferences in interacting with erythrocytes from animals and humans, their sugar affinities, the critical amino acids for their functionality, the molecular weights of their subunits and their respective topologies, and ultimately, their dimerization and 3D ß-prism-II structure, which reportedly diverge from those observed in other GNA-related lectins. These discrepancies not only deepen our understanding of monocot lectins but also render these proteins inherently captivating. This review marks the inaugural attempt at consolidating almost all published reports on lectins from the Araceae family, with the aim of furnishing glycobiology scientists with essential insights into potential laboratory challenges, the characteristics of these lectins, and avenues for future research.

Phoenix dactylifera (date palm; Arecaceae) putative lectin homologs: Genome-wide search, architecture analysis, and evolutionary relationship.

The date palm, Phoenix dactylifera, is a vital crop in nations in the Middle East and North Africa. The date palm was thought to have outstanding traditional medicinal value because it was abundant in phytochemicals with diverse chemical structures. The date palm's ability to withstand harsh environments could be partly attributed to a class of proteins known as lectins, which are carbohydrate-binding proteins that can bind sugar moieties reversibly and without changing their chemical structures. After scanning the genome of P. dactylifera (GCF 009389715.1), this in silico study discovered 196 possible lectin homologs from 11 different families, some specific to plants. At the same time, others could also be found in other kingdoms of life. Their domain architectures and functional amino acid residues were investigated, and they yielded a 40% true-lectin with known conserved carbohydrate-binding residues. Further, their probable subcellular localization, physiochemical and phylogenetic analyses were also performed. Scanning all putative lectin homologs against the anticancer peptide (ACP) dataset found in the AntiCP2.0 webpage identified 26 genes with protein kinase receptors (Lec-KRs) belonging to 5 lectin families, which are reported to have at least one ACP motif. Our study offers the first account of Phoenix-lectins and their organization that can be used for further structural and functional analysis and investigating their potential as anticancer proteins.

Association of ABO blood types and clinical variables with COVID-19 infection severity in Libya.

Objective: The continuing COVID-19 pandemic is a coronavirus-related health emergency (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2). Inadequate efforts are still being made to address the illness situation in Libya, and this must change. To address these issues, we looked into the demography and trend of the disease as well as the potential risk factors for infection. Methods: This study is a retrospective case-control study conducted online among 616 COVID-19 patients. The p0.05 value, odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals were calculated and analyzed from the drawn data. Results: Males were at high risk of COVID-19 than females (odds ratio = 1.3, 95% confidence interval: 1.042-1.622; p = 0.02). Anosmia and ageusia were more prominent in females. Patients with an "AB" blood group are significantly susceptible to infection. Adults (31 and above) are highly liable to infection. The univariate logistic regression analysis revealed that smoking is a risk factor for those above 60 years (odds ratio = 2.228, 95% confidence interval: 1.145-4.336; p = 0.018). Individuals with chronic diseases such as diabetes and/or hypertension are more prone to COVID-19 (odds ratio = 10.045, 95% confidence interval: 3.078-32.794; p = 0.000 and odds ratio = 11.508, 95% confidence interval: 3.930-33.695; p = 0.000, respectively). Conclusion: This study provided for the first time the demographic data and the trend of COVID-19 infection in Libya, which will assist the stakeholders and governmental bodies in planning protection strategies against the pandemic.

Purification, Partial Characterization, and Evaluation of the Antiulcer Activity of Calotropis procera Leaf Lectin.

BACKGROUND: Lectins are proteins with therapeutic and diagnostic potential that can be applied in battling various ailments. AIM AND OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to purify and characterize the hemagglutinating activity derived from the leaves of Calotropis procera and its possible role in protecting the stomach against ethanol-induced lesions. METHODS: The Calotropis procera leaf lectin (ProLec), was isolated by homogenization of the defatted leaf powder in Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS) and purified by affinity chromatography on Sephadex G-100. The lectin was eluted from the affinity column by 3% acetic acid and was physicochemically characterized. In a dose-dependent manner, ProLec was administered to rats with ethanol-induced ulcers, and biochemical, histopathological, and toxicological examinations were performed. RESULTS: ProLec is a heterodimer of 75 and 68 kDa. It agglutinated all human RBCs, whereas it showed weak interaction with animal erythrocytes. The protein was optimally active at 25 °C and was labile above this temperature. ProLec exhibited two pH optima and was a metalloprotein requiring Ca, Mn, and Ni. It contains 1.6% tryptophan residues of which about 1% is exposed and critical for lectin activity. The lectin exhibited a potent gastroprotective effect against ethanolinduced gastric lesions with no apparent toxicity to both kidneys and liver. Examination of the pH of the gastric juice of lectin-treated animals indicated a possible role of lectin in maintaining stomach acidity within the normal ranges compared to the gastric juice pH of animals that received ethanol only. CONCLUSION: These results may suggest that ProLec could conceivably be a good future drug for the treatment of gastric ulcers, however, extensive immunological and toxicological research remains to be done.

Plant lectin: A promising future anti-tumor drug.

Since the early discovery of plant lectins at the end of the 19th century, and the finding that they could agglutinate erythrocytes and precipitate glycans from their solutions, many applications and biological roles have been described for these proteins. Later, the observed erythrocytes clumping features were attributed to the lectin-cell surface glycoconjugates recognition. Neoplastic transformation leads to various cellular alterations which impact the growth of the cell and its persistence, among which is the mutation in the outer surface glycosylation signatures. Quite a few lectins have been found to act as excellent biomarkers for cancer diagnosis while some were presented with antiproliferative activity that initiated by lectin binding to the respective glycocalyx receptors. These properties are blocked by the hapten sugar that is competing for the lectin affinity binding site. In vitro investigations of lectin-cancer cell's glycocalyx interactions lead to a series of immunological reactions that result in autophagy or apoptosis of the transformed cells. Mistletoe lectin, an agglutinin purified from the European Viscum album is the first plant lectin employed in the treatment of cancer to enter into the clinical trial phases. The entrapment of lectin in nanoparticles besides other techniques to promote bioavailability and stability have also been recently studied. This review summarizes our up-to-date understanding of the future applications of plant lectins in cancer prognosis and diagnosis. With the provision of many examples of lectins that exhibit anti-neoplastic properties.

Plant lectins: A new antimicrobial frontier.

Pathogenic bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and other microbes constantly change to ensure survival. Several pathogens have adopted strict and intricate strategies to fight medical treatments. Many drugs, frequently prescribed to treat these pathogens, are becoming obsolete and ineffective. Because pathogens have gained the capacity to tolerate or resist medications targeted at them, hence the term antimicrobial resistance (AMR), in that regard, many natural compounds have been routinely used as new antimicrobial agents to treat infections. Thus, plant lectins, the carbohydrate-binding proteins, have been targeted as promising drug candidates. This article reviewed more than 150 published papers on plant lectins with promising antibacterial and antifungal properties. We have also demonstrated how some plant lectins could express a synergistic action as adjuvants to boost the efficacy of obsolete or abandoned antimicrobial drugs. Emphasis has also been given to their plausible mechanism of action. The study further reports on the immunomodulatory effect of plant lectins and how they boost the immune system to curb or prevent infection.

The striking mimics between COVID-19 and malaria: A review.

Objectives: COVID-19 is a transmissible illness triggered by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Since its onset in late 2019 in Wuhan city of China, it continues to spread universally, leading to an ongoing pandemic that shattered all efforts to restrain it. On the other hand, in Africa, the COVID-19 infection may be influenced by malaria coinfection. Hence, in this review article, we aimed to give a comprehensive account of the similarities between COVID-19 and malaria in terms of symptoms, clinical, immunological, and molecular perspectives. Methodology: In this article, we reviewed over 50 research papers to highlight the multilayered similarities between COVID-19 and malaria infections that might influence the ontology of COVID-19. Results: Despite the poor health and fragile medical system of many sub-Saharan African countries, they persisted with a statistically significantly low number of COVID-19 cases. This was attributed to many factors such as the young population age, the warm weather, the lack of proper diagnosis, previous infection with malaria, the use of antimalarial drugs, etc. Additionally, population genetics appears to play a significant role in shaping the COVID-19 dynamics. This is evident as recent genomic screening analyses of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and malaria-associated-variants identified 6 candidate genes that might play a role in malaria and COVID-19 incidence and severity. Moreover, the clinical and pathological resemblances between the two diseases have made considerable confusion in the diagnosis and thereafter curb the disease in Africa. Therefore, possible similarities between the diseases in regards to the clinical, pathological, immunological, and genetical ascription were discussed. Conclusion: Understanding the dynamics of COVID-19 infection in Sub-Saharan Africa and how it is shaped by another endemic disease like malaria can provide insights into how to tailor a successful diagnostic, intervention, and control plans that lower both disease morbidity and mortality.

Incidental hepatitis B virus in Sudanese patients and relative risk factors: Why more screening is needed in primary care?

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is considered one of the most paternally transmissible viruses. Therefore, education about its risk factors and transmission is vital in decreasing the prevalence of the disease burden in Sudan. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relative risk factors of HBV and its impact on the society. Materials And Methods: A facility-based, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among those who were incidentally detected with HBV surface antigen (HbsAg) and their contact family members by ICT and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in Tropical Diseases Teaching Hospital, Omdurman locality, Khartoum state, Sudan. Results: The study recruited 112 participants, among whom 63 individuals incidentally attended for screening for HBV and this led to contact tracing of 49 individuals (contact relative group). Among 63 patients of the incidental group, there were 83.9% males and 16.1% females. In the contact tracing group consisting of 49 individuals, there were 83.3% males and 16.7% females (odds ratio [OR] = 1.375, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.14-13.6; P = 0.000). All the participants were screened for HBsAg. HBV was found to have a significant association with male gender (OR = 1.375, 95% CI = 0.14-13.6; P = 0.000), marital status (OR = 627.084, 95% CI = 48-8195; P = 0.000), working as police officers (OR = 524.2, 95% CI = 43.5-6314; P = 0.000), residing in Khartoum (OR = 520.173, 95% CI = 43-6290; P = 0.000), being illiterate (OR = 558.4, 95% CI = 47.7-6544.7; P = 0.000), vaccination status (OR = 625.4, 95% CI = 48.9-7996.3; P = 0.000), and with some concomitant diseases (OR = 559.193, 95% CI = 47.7-6561.5; P = 0.000). Conclusion: The HBV is still considered a very critical, highly infectious disease; therefore, primary care physicians have an important role in the investigation, prevention, and health education, in order to prevent the viral spread.

Characterization of alpha-mannosidase from Erythrina indica seeds and influence of endogenous lectin on its activity.

alpha-mannosidase from Erythrina indica seeds is a Zn(2+) dependent glycoprotein with 8.6% carbohydrate. The enzyme has a temperature optimum of 50 degrees C and energy of activation calculated from Arrhenius plot was found to be 23 kJ mol(-1). N-terminal sequence up to five amino acid residues was found to be DTQEN (Asp, Thr, Gln, Glu, and Asn). In chemical modification studies treatment of the enzyme with NBS led to total loss of enzyme activity and modification of a single tryptophan residue led to inactivation. Fluorescence studies over a pH range of 3-8 have shown tryptophan residue to be in highly hydrophobic environment and pH change did not bring about any appreciable change in its environment. Far-UV CD spectrum indicated predominance of alpha-helical structure in the enzyme. alpha-Mannosidase from E indica exhibits immunological identity with alpha-mannosidase from Canavalia ensiformis but not with the same enzyme from Glycine max and Cicer arietinum. Incubation of E. indica seed lectin with alpha-mannosidase resulted in 35% increase in its activity, while no such activation was observed for acid phosphatase from E. indica. Lectin induced activation of alpha-mannosidase could be completely abolished in presence of lactose, a sugar specific for lectin.

Spectroscopic studies on Erythrina lysistemon seed lectin: effect of denaturing agents on lectin quaternary structure.

The equilibrium unfolding of ElysL, a homodimeric legume lectin, was studied using different denaturing agents such as guanidinium chloride (GdnHCl), temperature and pH. Simultaneously, changes in the secondary as well as tertiary structure of lectin were followed by CD spectroscopy examination in both far and near-UV region, respectively. The hydrophobic cluster binding dye, 1-anilino-8-naphthalene sulfonate (ANS), was used to further explore intermediates and to follow the unfolding pathway of lectin. The adenine binding ability of lectin was examined and monitored via absorption spectra and the intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence. Our findings indicate that the ElysL unfolding process occurs via a three state pathway with an intermediate state. We also showed that ElysL binds adenine in a manner that involves a hydrophobic binding pocket that is independent of the carbohydrate binding sites.