Changes in glycosylation of microvillus membranes in Giardia lamblia infected mice intestine

Giardia lamblia infection has been shown to modify the glycosylation process of microvillus membranes in mice intestine. Sialic acid content of the membranes was enhanced 3-fold but there was no change in fucose content of infected animals compared to the controls. The binding of 125I-wheat germ agglutinin was augmented and that of Ulex Europeus agglutinin was unaltered to infected membranes. The binding of 125I-peanut agglutinin to brush borders was however, significantly reduced in Giardia infected mice. Kinetic analysis revealed that the observed binding of peanut agglutinin to the membrane was associated with reduced number of the lectin reactive sites (control = 649 and infected 380 nmole/protein) with no change in the affinity constant (Ka = 95.7 nmole/ml) in Giardia infected mice intestine.