Background: Dermatophytosis is common cutaneous fungal disease with worldwide distribution. Interleukin8 (IL-8) realized from keratinocytes in the presence of dermatophytic antigens causes induction of acute responses in dermatophyte infection and subsequently production of acute phase proteins occurs in hepatocytes. C-reactive protein (CRP) and Mannose-binding LECTIN (MBL) are acute phase proteins. Since few researches in the case of acute phase proteins in dermatophytic infections has been accomplished, this study has been designed for determining serum CRP and MBL levels in patients affected to dermatophytosis.Methods: This was a cross sectional study and samples were carried out on 96 healthy individuals and 105 patients affected to dermatophytosis with non probable and in access procedure. For isolation and identification of dermatophyte direct microscopic examination, culturing and complementary examinations were done and for determination of serum CRP and MBL levels in healthy individuals and in patients ELISA test were used. For investigation of relevance between variables, Chi-square, Fisher exact, Mann-Whitney and Roc curve analysis were used and p< 0.05 was considered as meaningful level.Results: The median serum CRP level in healthy individuals and in patients group was 3.31±3.32 mg/ml and 16.60±35.96 mg/ml (p<0.001) respectively and the median serum MBL level was 1.53±1.87 mg/ml and 1.97±2.03 mg/ml (p=0.039) respectively. CRP (p<0.001) and MBL (p=0.042) were determined meaningful parameters for dermatophytosis. MBL deficiency (MBL concentrations <1 mg/ml) was higher in control subjects (56.2%) than in patients (41.0%). Conclusion: Findings of this study indicate increased concentrations of CRP and MBL in patients affected to dermatophytosis and their role in this infection. Probably observation of high frequency of MBL deficiency in healthy individuals in compare with patients group indicates that it is not predisposing factor in affecting to dermatophytosis.

Examples of inter- and intramolecular direct co-functioning of LECTINs and enzymes are summarized. The data indicate importance of LECTIN-enzyme relationships in molecular and clinical microbiology and medical biotechnology. LECTIN-enzyme relationships have extended prospects in medicine and biotechnology.

Introduction: Several different cell types have been identified morphologically in the epididymal epithelium in male mammals. They absorb luminal fluid and secret sperm-maturation glycoconjugates. LECTIN histochemical method is useful for detection of glycocojugates with specific terminal sugars.Objective: This study surveys the distribution of glycoconjugates containing terminal sugals in cells of different areas of epididym and its canal sperms by the use of LECTINs.Materials and Methods: Sample of epididymal tissue was obtained from 30 adult male BALB/C mouse. After fixation and routine laboratory process, 5 μm sections was prepared from paraffin blocks. Slides were exposed to LECTINs with LECTIN-histochemistry. Then the slides were assessed by light microscope and graded reaction intensity in different cells.Results: Basal cells reacted to MPA, SBA and principal cells to all of LECTINs. Reaction intensity in essential cells was different as compared to various LECTINs and a special LECTIN in different areas of epididym. Narrow cells reacted to LTA, MPA and clear cells reacted to all of LECTINs. There wasn’t any reaction in basal lamina and interstitial tissue except for MPA.Conclusion: epididymis secrets many sperm-maturation related glycoconjugates. Different reactions in different probably synthesieed glycoconjugates in basal cells due to inability to reach lumen and limited reaction in membrane, are used for repair and reconstruction of membrane. Faint or lack of reactions in caput of epididymis and appearance in corpus principal cells indicates that these cells in caput are involved in fluid absorption and/or glycoconjugates secretion in corpus. Epididymal sperm transit are accompanied with focuse content increasing and alternation in other terminal sugars.

Background: The role of LECTINs is important in interaction between pathogens and mosquito vectors. This study was performed to identify agglutinin activities of protein molecules on the midgut of Culex pipiens.Methods: Culex pipiens was reared in insectray condition and the midguts of males and females (blood fed and unfed) were dissected separately in Tris-HCl buffer. The extracts of midguts were applied for hemagglutinin assay against red blood cells of rabbit, mouse, rat, dog, horse, sheep, guinea pig, cow, human (A, B, AB, O groups). Then, the RBCs with relatively high agglutinin activity were chosen for carbohydrate inhibition assay. D (+) glucose, D (+) galactose, D (+) mannose, D (-) fructose, D (-) arabinose, L (-) fucose, lactose, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, N-acetyl-Dgalactosamine, sialic acid were used to specify carbohydrate binding LECTIN.Results: The highest agglutinin activities were found against sheep and rabbits RBCs. Sexual diversity of agglutinin activities was observed among midgut extraction of males and females. In addition, variation in agglutinin activity of blood fed and unfed female mosquitoes were detected. The LECTIN activity was inhibited highly with glucose, galactose, fucose and fructose but less inhibitor activities was observed by arabinose, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, nacetyl-d-glucosamine, lactose and mannose.Conclusion: The secretion of hemagglutinins (LECTINs or LECTIN-like molecules) in the digestive system depends on the type of food in the gut. This suggests that emptying of the gut in preparation for protein rich food probably starts the secretion of hemagglutinins.