Lectin and glycan microarrays are increasingly utilised in glycoscience to study important biological interactions involving carbohydrates. The low sample and probe consumption combined with potential for high data yield makes these platforms highly desirable. Although mammalian lectins (MamLec) are of great importance in developmental, inflammation and disease processes, their use as probes on a microarray platform has been a slow development due to their natural instability, scarcity and narrow functional parameters. To address this gap in glycobiological research, we immobilised a panel of selectins, siglecs and pattern recognition receptors (C-type innate immune lectins) on a functionalised glass slide. A number of technical considerations to maintain the function of the mammalian lectins on the MamLec microarray were tested and optimised, including print buffers, incubation buffers and storage conditions. Specific carbohydrate binding was assessed using relevant glycoproteins and neoglycoconjugates and binding constants for the lectins in this platform were determined using inhibition with mono- and oligosaccharides. The interactions of clinical and laboratory strains of pathogenic and commensal bacteria were profiled on the MamLec microarray to examine potential pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and associate these with particular types of pathogenic infections and host infection responses. This platform is a valuable development towards investigations of relevant host-specific interactions.
