Elias Cohen

The nature of cellular agglutinins of Androctonus australis (Saharan Scorpion) serum

Abstract The nature of cellular agglutinins of Androctonus australis (Saharan Scorpion) serum with selected comparisons with agglutinins of Limulus polyphemus (Horse-shoe crab) has been studied. Human peripheral chronic lymphocytic leukemic lymphocytes were agglutinated by Androctonus to higher titers and scores than peripheral normal lymphocytes. Androctonus agglutinins were able to differentiate more significantly between human peripheral lymphocytes than Limulus agglutinins. Human erythrocytes were agglutinated by Androctonus serum with no significant ABO differences. Hemagglutination inhibition of human erythrocytes by whole Androctonus and Limulus sera was demonstrated by selected sugars suggesting that Androctonus agglutinin receptors have different affinity and a different specificity for sugars than do Limulus agglutinins. Androctonus and Limulus sera may be useful, therefore, in identifying leukemic or “neoplastic” human cells, as well as studying topographic changes in normal and leukemic lymphocyte cell membranes.

Sialic acid-binding lectins in the whip scorpion (Mastigoproctus giganteus) serum

Abstract Sialic acid-specific lectins have been detected in the serum of the “whip scorpion,” Mastigoproctus giganteus . When compared to Limulus lectins, Mastigoproctus agglutination profiles for a panel of untreated and enzyme-treated vertebrate erythrocytes were almost identical except for the agglutination of nonhuman primate erythrocytes. However, both chelicerate species exhibited heterogeneous serum lectins which showed some differences in their serological reactivity. At least three distinct specific fractions could be demonstrated in Mastigoproctus serum by crossed absorption and hemagglutination-inhibition experiments. These fractions are specific for sialic acids and/or sialoconjugates but also bind substances such as N -acetylglutamic acid, N -acetylmuramic acid, chitobiose, and chitotriose. These adjunct specificities are important clues in the interpretation of the possible biological role of chelicerate lectins.

Sialic acid binding lectins in the serum of american spiders of the genus Aphonopelma

Multiple lectins were detected in the serum of three American species of the genus Aphonopelma (A. chalcodes, A. cochise and A. chiricawa) through tests of agglutination and crossed absorption with a panel of untreated and enzyme treated of vertebrate erythrocytes. Hemagglutination-inhibition experiments showed that a fraction of A. chalcodes serum lectins bind sialic acids and sialoconjugates although other related carbohydrates as N-acetyl-D-glucosamine and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate also are recognized. Results of these studies extend our observations about the presence of sialoconjugate binding lectins in members of the Chelicerata to species from the Order Araneae. At the present time the Chelicerata (horseshoe crabs, scorpions, whip scorpions and spiders), would constitute the only group of high taxonomic rank which includes species that exhibit certain common patterns in the specificity of their humoral lectins.

Humoral lectins in the scorpion vaejovis confuscius: A serological characterization

Abstract Serum of the scorpion Vaejovis confuscius (Vaejovidae) exhibited agglutinating activity when tested with a variety of untreated and enzyme-treated vertebrate erythrocytes. Bird and reptile erythrocytes were no longer agglutinated by V. confuscius as well as Centruroides sculpturatus (Buthidae) and Limulus polyphemus sera after treatment with neuraminidase. Crossed absorption experiments revealed the presence of multiple lectins in V. confuscius serum and this was confirmed by hemagglutination-inhibition experiments. Sialic acids, their derivatives, and sialoconjugates were the best inhibitors for both V. confuscius and C. sculpturatus lectins although other N-acylamino compounds (N-acetyl- d -galactosamine, N-acetyl- d -glucosamine, and N-acetylmuramic acid) also inhibited. C. sculpturatus exhibited an additional lectin fraction specific for galactans. These specificities for substances widely distributed in procaryotic cells might give clues about the biological role of chelicerate lectins.

Characterization of the carbohydrate specificity of serum lectins from the scorpion Hadrurus arizonensis Stahnke

1. n1. Hadrurus arizonensis serum lectins were found to be heterogeneous in specificity but all fractions bound sialoconjugates bearing terminal oligosaccharides NANA(NGNA)-α-2-3(6)Gal- and NAN(NGNA)-α-2-6-GalNAc. n n2. n2. The oligosaccharide NANA-α-2-8-NANA- from colominic acid was not recognized by any of H. arizonensis lectin fractions. n n3. n3. No galactosyl-binding lectins were detected in H. arizonensis, but were earlier observed in scorpions Androctonus australis and Centruroides sculpturatus, from the Buthidae family. n n4. n4. In this respect the serological behaviour of H. arizonensis lectin was similar to those from other American Vaejovidae species studied previously: Vaejovis spinigerus and Paruroctonus mesaensis. n n5. n5. These results and our former studies suggest that sialic acid-binding serum lectins are ubiquitous within the Chelicerata species studied so far.

Natural antibodies to human lymphocytes and erythrocytes in the serum of Orcinusorca killer whale

The existence of naturally occurring heterophile antibodies to antigenic determinants on human blood cell membranes has long been known. It has been shown that the serum of Orcinus orca (Killer whale) does contain similar antibody. Absorption techniques in concert with either microagglutination or complement-dependent microcytotoxicity assays revealed at least three antibody specificities erythrocyte (RBC), B-lymphocyte and T-lymphocyte. Human erythrocyte specificity has been separated from other mammalian RBC specificity, and higher microagglutination titers and/or scores were observed with human group A RBCs than with group B,O, or AB. Tests run at 4 degrees, 20 degrees and 37 degrees C). Higher microcytotoxicity and microagglutination activity was demonstrated with B versus T lymphocytes. It is hoped that the characterization of the antigenic specificity of these heterophile agglutinins will prove to be useful as a biological reagent-tool which may be applied to the identification of a new receptor on human lymphocytes and/or erythrocytes. Also, if isolated, these agglutinins could be useful in the study of the occurrence and presence of specific receptors on cell membranes and give insight as to how these receptors change in health, disease and malignancy.