Editing Lectin (section)

===Hemagglutination===
Lectins are considered a major family of protein [[antinutrients]], which are specific sugar-binding proteins exhibiting reversible carbohydrate-binding activities.<ref>{{cite book |doi=10.1016/S0065-2318(08)60220-6 |pmid=356549 |title=The Lectins: Carbohydrate-Binding Proteins of Plants and Animals |volume=35 |pages=127–340 |year=1978 |last1=Goldstein |first1=Erwin |last2=Hayes |first2=Colleen |series=Advances in Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biochemistry |isbn=978-0-12-007235-4}}</ref> Lectins are similar to [[antibodies]] in their ability to agglutinate red blood cells.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Lectins: Cell-Agglutinating and Sugar-Specific Proteins |journal=Science |volume=177 |issue=4053 |pages=949–959 |year=1972 |last1=Sharon |first1=Nathan |last2=Lis |first2=Halina |doi=10.1126/science.177.4053.949 |pmid=5055944 |bibcode=1972Sci...177..949S}}</ref>

Many legume seeds have been proven to contain high lectin activity, termed [[hemagglutination]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=Sialidase-Enhanced Lectin-Like Mechanism for ''Actinomyces viscosus'' and ''Actinomyces naeslundii'' Hemagglutination |journal=Infection and Immunity |volume=27 |issue=2 |pages=335–343 |year=1980 |last1=Ellen |first1=R.P. |last2=Fillery |first2=E.D. |last3=Chan |first3=K.H. |last4=Grove |first4=D.A. |doi=10.1128/IAI.27.2.335-343.1980 |pmid=6769798 |pmc=550769 |doi-access=free}}</ref> [[Soybean]] is the most important grain legume crop in this category. Its seeds contain high activity of soybean lectins ([[soybean agglutinin]] or SBA).