Hemagglutinins: Structures, Functions and Mechanisms

Hemagglutinins refers to glycoproteins which bring about agglutination of erythrocytes or hemagglutination. Hemagglutination can be used to identify surface antigens on erythrocytes (with known antibodies) and, hence, the blood type of an individual. Hemagglutinins consist of lectins and antibodies. Lectins (from the Latin legere, “to select”) are non-immune glycoproteins that exhibit reversible b...