Objective
Bacterial binding in the small intestine is mainly through the strictly carbohydrate-specific fimbrial and surface adhesins of microorganisms. As food lectins also bind in a similar sugar specific manner, there is potential competition between food lectins and bacterial adhesins of similar sugar specificities for binding to the appropriate carbohydrate containing receptors of the brush border membrane of the small intestine. Accordingly, the bacterial ecology and gut function can be modified and improved by the inclusion in the diet of natural additives, such as lectins or appropriate glycans. Therefore, the overall aim and main general objective of the project is to find specific plant lectins and/or glycoconjugates which, as natural dietary supplements, will abolish or minimize the harmful bacterial colonization of the small intestine and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Within this overall aim there will be a special emphasis on not only attempting to find advantageous lectins which could be us d as dietary supplements, but also to transfer the genes of such lectins into food crop plants which are part of our natural diet.
Research was carried out to find specific plant lectins and/or glycoconjugates which, as natural dietary supplements, will abolish or minimize the harmful bacterial colonization of the small intestine and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
The effects of a number of plant lectins, including those from the seeds of kidney and soya bean and bacterial adhesions of Escherichia coli, were to be studied in vitro on various human cells lines in culture and the effects of a number of plant lectins tested on the morphology and function of the bacterial binding to the rat small intestine in vivo.
25 lectins have been isolated and the adhesive properties of selected resident and/or pathogenic bacteria from the small intestine have been studied.
The effects of isolated lectin, bacteria, bacterial adhesions and glycoconjugates on human intestinal cells (Caco-2) were explored in respect of binding, endocytosis and functional changes in vitro. It was shown that the avidity of the in vitro binding of lectin to cells can be correlated with their known in vivo toxicity.
The influence of lectin on the gut flora and bacterial binding to the gut wall and their effects on the morphology and function of various organs, including the small intestine, kidneys, liver, pancreas and the immune system were examined in vivo in mammals, especially in rats (and pigs), after short or long term feeding with lectin rich diets.
Also, food lectin and saccharides have been tested as blockers of the binding and proliferation of harmful and/or pathogenic bacteria in the small intestine.
Finally, research into the insecticidal properties of lectin with the aim of conferring increased insect resistance has resulted in:
the identification of GNA as a natural insecticide.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology microbiomes
- medical and health sciences basic medicine immunology
- medical and health sciences health sciences nutrition
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules carbohydrates
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Data not available
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Data not available
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Data not available
Coordinator
AB21 9SB ABERDEEN
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.