Synergistic Activities of Fish Lectins with Other Antimicrobial Agents

Lectins consist of a group of protein specifically characterized by carbohydrates binding ability with the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) in their molecular structure. These proteins are diverse in nature and found in several organisms consisting of prokaryotes, eukaryotes (plants and animals) and viruses. Several studies are carried out in fish lectins with special emphasis to its antimicrobial capabilities. The research on fish lectins has enhanced new aspects in the fish immunology and lectin biology. A vast variety of lectins were found in aquatic organisms with specific medical uses in recent decades; for example, lectins can be employed in cancer detection and treatment for cell adhesion, cytotoxicity and tumour cell identification. The main characteristic of lectins are the identification of carbohydrates and glycoconjugates in various organs in the animal body, and this property can help as biotechnological tools and in the field of diagnosis, pharmacological and therapeutic applications. Synergistic interactions between natural products and antibiotics could be an effective technique for combating bacterial diseases.