SNAILS AND SCIENCE

When we talk about snails we immediately think of their destination in cookery, so we are astonished at seeing that in the last few years they have been connected with sophisticated experimets of molecular biology and immunology, the branch which studies the phenomena which regulate the defence of our body against alien elements. It has been proved that the albumin gland which is part of the Helix Pomatia’s reproductive apparatus, elaborates a proteinic substance similar to an antibody called lectin (from the latin to choose). This substance is connected with our cells called T lymphocytes and responsible for the “direct” defence against external agents such as bacteria and tumorous cells etc. Helix Pomatia’s lectin enables us to distinguish the above mentioned cells from others similar to them but whose activity is different (Blymphocytes). Lectin is also extremely important as far as organ transplants are concerned as it enables us to watch the so called “reyecton crisis”. To sum up Helix Pomatia’s lectin is a specific “marker” of T lymphocytes which possess a receptor of this substance on their membrane. This receptor is also present in some immature non T cells and on Blymphocytes in patients who suffer from chronic lymphatic leukemia. In this case, as it is known, most lymphocytes bear Ig M and Ig D immunoglobulin oh their surface. The study about the ratio between this surface immunoglobulin and the Helix pomatia’s surface receptor enables us to follow the course of the illness in patients who suffer from chronic lymphatic leukemia. This study is also used as a parameter to show possible progress which may occur during the course of the illness. If the Helix Pomatia’s receptors increase, the course of the illness is positive if instead, there is an increase of receptors to the advantage of the immunoglobulin, the course is negative. A substance called agglutinin which agglutinates human A group red globules An enzymic pretreatment with bromelin combined with agglutinin permits to point out the differences among subgroups in the A group, therefore it is used to type blood. Helix pomatia has got a special affinity with polysaccharide substances that is to say with sugar and its juice acts upon bacteria which contain special polysaccharides by agglutinating them. The bacteria may be: A and C Group streptococcus, aureate and lactis staphylococcus’strains as well as tiphimurium salmonella, therefore, Helix pomatia’s albumin gland is used to distinguish the above mentioned bacterial strains in laboratories. Some scholars have explained why Helix pomatia elaborates such substances.
The agglutinin produced by the albumin gland acts in order to protect the eggs from the attack of microorganisms present in the environment (soil, water). We do not know what scientific research will reserve us in future if we consider that Helix pomatia has been taken as a laboratory animal for immunology, an extremely advanced branch in modern medical science which studies the defense mechanisms of the body against microbes (infectious diseases) or theriomas. We are convinced that our friend the snail will become a subject to study and for new theories which will help us to shed light on one of the most terrible aggressions: the neoblastic cells.
We wish that our snail will find itself in the front line in the struggle against cancer.