Evidence for a novel biological role for the multifunctional β-1,3-glucan binding protein in shrimp

► Purified Farfantepenaeus paulensis (FpβGBP) and Litopenaeus schmitti (LsβGBP) βGBPs were able to enhance the activation of the proPO system. ► Shrimp βGBPs are able to agglutinate fungal cells, in a lectin-like manner. ► This is the first evidence of a lectin-like activity for βGBP. ► FpβGBP showed to be constitutively expressed and was not modulated by a non-lethal dose of filamentous fungi.