Journal of Medical Toxicology and Clinical Forensic Medicine

Use of Lectins in Forensic Serology

Lectins are type of protein that can bind to cell membranes. Lectins are abundantly found in raw legumes and grains, and also found in dairy products and certain vegetables. Lectins are proteins extensively used in biomedical applications with property to recognize carbohydrates through carbohydrate binding sites, which identify glycans attached to cell surface, free sugars, gycoconjugates and also biomarkers related to diseases.
INTRODUCTION:
Blood is one of the chief form of biological fluid which is recovered in crime scene, which help to put the criminal behind the bars and exonerate the innocent. Till now not much studies had been put forward on use of lectins in forensic serology. So as serology plays an important role in crime investigation, use of lectins in determination of biological fluids can also be considered. Since biological fluids such as blood, serum, saliva etc. can be encountered in different number of cases such as burglary, murder, assault, rape. Lectins or receptor specific proteins have found a wide range of applications in biology and biochemistry as well as other life sciences. The original applications of these reagents in blood banking have been adapted to the unusual working conditions encountered by forensic scientists and lectins have been very useful in the analysis of blood and semen stains.

Author(s):

Thripthi Suvarna

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