The tested lectins for the SAa2-3Gal capped glycan were MAA (EY Laboratories, San Mateo, CA, USA), MAL-I (Vector Laboratories, Burlingame, CA, USA) and MAL-II (Vector Laboratories). The lectins for the SAa2-6Gal were SNA (Vector Laboratories) and SNA-I (EY Laboratories). The MAA lectins were conjugated with biotin or a green fluorescent dye, fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC). The signal of the biotin-labeled lectins was enhanced and visualized by staining with a red-fluorescent Cy3conjugated streptavidin (Rockland, Gilbertsville, PA, USA).