This document summarizes information about lectins, including their structure, biological uses, clinical significance, and relationship to mannose-binding lectin deficiency. Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins that bind specifically to sugar moieties. They are tetramers composed of nearly identical subunits and form non-covalent bindings with carbohydrate conjugates. Lectins help mediate attachment of microorganisms and are important in adhesion, agglutination, and sugar transport. Mannose-binding lectin deficiency can increase susceptibility to infections due to reduced availability of the normal subunit protein and decreased immune recognition of pathogens. Genetic mutations in the MBL2 gene and physiological roles of mannose-binding lectin in immune activation and