Highlights of IMMUNOLOGY2026™ - Invited Program Recordings-Probing the function of human immune lectins

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Video Summary

Laura Kiesling discussed how glycosylation and human immune lectins shape interactions at mucosal barriers, especially in the gut. She explained that human and bacterial sugars differ greatly, allowing lectins to distinguish microbes from self. Her lab studied intellectin-2, an orphan lectin induced by infection, and found it binds galactose-containing mucins, cross-links mucus, stabilizes the barrier, and can kill bound bacteria, including commensals and pathogens.  <br /><br />She also described a broader strategy to map lectin–microbe interactions using barcoded lectins combined with sequencing and spatial proteomics. This revealed highly specific binding patterns, sometimes changing in disease such as IBD, and suggested potential diagnostic uses. In tissue imaging, lectins like galectin-8 helped distinguish follicular hyperplasia from follicular lymphoma and marked sites of exhausted T cells. Overall, her talk showed lectins are important for barrier defense, immune regulation, and possibly disease detection and therapy.

Keywords

glycosylation

human immune lectins

mucosal barriers

intellectin-2

lectin-microbe interactions

diagnostic biomarkers