Role for Mannose Binding Lectin in the Prevention of Mycoplasma Infection
Hamvas RMJ., Johnson M., Vlieger AM., Ling C., Sherriff A., Wade A., Klein NJ., Turner MW., Webster ADB.
ABSTRACT Polymorphisms in exon 1 of the MBL-2 gene, resulting in reduced plasma levels of mannose binding lectin, were significantly overrepresented in 23 patients with primary antibody deficiency and culture-proven mycoplasma infections ( P = 0.0038). This association persisted with the inclusion of a further nine suspected (doxycycline-responsive) cases ( P = 0.0087). The lectin was shown to bind to three strains of mycoplasma.