Normal bovine erythrocytes were agglutinated with four of five
lectins specific for different
oligosaccharides. The order of reactivity was wheat germ greater than
ricin greater than soybean greater than peanut.
Concanavalin A did not agglutinate normal bovine erythrocytes. After
neuraminidase treatment of normal bovine erythrocytes, each
lectin agglutinated the cells with decreased concentrations of
lectin, verifying that partial removal of
sialic acid exposes more of each
lectin's binding sites or alters the binding site such that fewer molecules of
lectin are required to initiate agglutination. A change in agglutination of erythrocytes using
soybean agglutinin and
peanut agglutinin occurred when cells were obtained from cattle infected with Eperythrozoon wenyoni. The results suggested that an alteration in erythrocyte membranes occurred as a result of this
infection as manifested by the increased recognition of both the
soybean agglutinin and
peanut agglutinin receptor carbohydrates. A similar effect was indicated with erythrocytes obtained during an acute Anaplasma marginale
infection; however, an ensuing
reticulocytosis masked the effect, requiring the use of fluoresceinated
lectins to verify that increased binding of each
lectin occurred with infected cells when compared to normal cells.