Phytophthora parasitica var. nicotianae produces a 34-kDa glycoprotein elicitor (CBEL) that is localized in the cell wall. A cDNA encoding the protein moiety of this elicitor was cloned and characterized. The deduced amino acid sequence consisted of two direct repeats of a cysteine-rich domain, joined by a Thr/Pro-rich region. Although having no general homology with published sequences, the positions of the cysteine residues in the two repeats show a conserved pattern, similar to that of the cellulose-binding domain of fungal glycanases. CBEL did not possess hydrolytic activity on a variety of glycans, but bound to fibrous cellulose and plant cell walls. In addition, it exerted a lectin-like hemagglutinating activity. Infiltration of tobacco leaves (cultivar 46-8) with this molecule elicited necrosis and defense gene expression at 150 nM. Elicitor pretreatment of this tobacco cultivar resulted in protection against subsequent inoculation with an otherwise virulent race of P. parasitica var. nicotianae. All these biological activities were exerted within a low concentration range. This is the first report that a fungal elicitor exhibits cellulose-binding and lectin-like activities. The possible implications of such a multifunctional elicitor in plant-microbe interactions are discussed.