Detection of lectin from Chrysosporium keratinophilum (Frey) carmichael and Anixiopsis stercoraria (Hansen) Hansen by inhibition of haemagglutination.

Several strains of Chrysosporium keratinophilum and Anixiopsis stercoraria agglutinate the red blood cells of different origins (man, sheep, rabbit, mouse). The best agglutination was obtained with rabbit erythrocytes. The inhibition experiments by carbohydrate solutions (oses, osamines and glycoproteins) were performed with 3 haemagglutination units of these fungi and revealed the lectin nature of this haemagglutinin, as evidenced by the specific inhibiting activity of N-acetyl-neuraminic acid. Preliminary studies seemed to indicate that this lectin is a thermostable protein, and that the haemagglutination activity is calcium-dependent.