Aspects of general antimicrobial properties of skin secretions in the common seal Phoca vitulina

Considerable amounts of several saccharide residues (alpha-D-Man, beta-D-Gl cNAc, alpha-n-GalNAc, beta-D-Gal, alpha-D-Gal, alpha-L-Fuc, NeuNAc) are dem onstrated by lectin histochemistry in the sections of the sebaceous glands, and, particularly, the apocrine tubular glands of the common seal. These s ugars may be liberated on the skin surface by microbial activities and, the n, represent a general antimicrobial protection mechanism of the skin becau se of their ability to inhibit the adherence of different bacteria and fung i to the epidermis.