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A history of lectins
1888  Peter Hermann Stillmark, doctoral thesis   University of Dorpat (Tartu, Estonia)
      - isolation of RCA hemagglutinin or ricin from seeds of castor tree (Ricinus communis)
1888 Â H. Hellin (Tartu, Estonia)
      - isolation of abrin from jequirity bean (Abrus precatorius)
1890s Paul Ehrlich (Royal Institute of Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt) employs ricin and abrin as antigens.
1919 James B. Sumner  Cornell University (Ithaca, NY)Â
     - isolation of concanavalin A (conA) from jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis)
1936 Sumner and Howell reports that conA agglutinates cells and demonstrates sugar specificity
1900-7 Karl Landsteiner (University of Vienna) discovers human A, B, O blood groups
1900-7 Karl Landsteiner (University of Vienna) discovers human A, B, O blood groups
Sharon N and Lis H. History of lectins: from hemagglutinin to biological recognition molecules. Glycobiology (2004) 14:53R
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