lectins

Lectins are sugar-binding proteins (not to be confused with glycoproteins, which are proteins containing sugar chains or residues) that are highly specific for their sugar moieties.

They play a role in biological recognition phenomena involving cells and proteins. For example, some viruses use lectins to attach themselves to the cells of the host organism during infection.

Lectins may be disabled by specific mono- and oligosaccharides, which bind to them and prevent their attachment to cell membranes.