ABSTRACT
Although cancer and infectious diseases are undoubtedly emerging as global health concerns, neurodegenerative diseases also plague millions of people worldwide, and novel approaches to unravel and curb these pathologies are being sought. Lectins, which are ubiquitous groups of proteins and/or glycoproteins with diverse health-promoting applications, are being proposed as a veritable tool in curbing these global menaces. This is owing to their exploitable attributes in virtually all processes that involve protein-glycan interactions. The irregular glycosylation signature of cancer cells and arrays of cell-surface glycan structures on many pathogenic microbes are being explored as potential ligands for specific lectins. These quintessential biomolecules have historically been employed in key biomedical applications, including histology, blood typing and transfusion, host-pathogen interactions, drug discovery, and delivery, among others. Effectively addressing the surging burdens of these pathologies globally will require exhaustive strategies that utilize both curative and preventive interventions. Hence, in this chapter, we focus on the prospects of lectins, especially as biopharmaceuticals, biomedical tools, and drug discovery/delivery against cancer, infectious diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases.
