Invertebrate lectins: new aspects in retrospects

Invertebrate lectins may be regarded as a special group of lectins, as there are several reasons for this: (a) their role in different defense mechanisms and in nutrition, (b) their specificity, for instance their anti-neuraminyl reactivity (and no mannose-specific lectins) and (c) their distribution in the haemolymph and in organ cells or defense-commited haemocytes.