Glycans News and Research

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Scientists uncover key enzymes involved in bacterial pathogenicity

Gram-negative bacteria cause a variety of infectious diseases in plants and animals alike. Outbreaks of Salmonella and E. coli infections often make headlines due to their severity, and people have to resort to allopathic as well as natural remedies, increasing the burden on the healthcare system.

16 Oct 2023

Mucin glycosylation plays crucial role in protecting against obesity and intestinal inflammation

Located in the mucus layer that lines the gastrointestinal tract, mucins-;proteins with attached sugar molecules-;play a key role in combating bacterial infection and providing a safe haven to friendly gut bacteria through unknown mechanisms.

11 Oct 2023

Towards xenotransplantation: Genetically altered pig kidneys prove viable in non-human primates

Researchers used a genetically engineered porcine donor to develop kidney grafts.

11 Oct 2023

Decoding the twist: Coronavirus spike proteins reveal their intricate invasion dance

Researchers use cryo-EM and molecular dynamics to reveal conformational changes in the spike proteins of human coronavirus HKU1 upon binding with a receptor. Findings unveil the complexity of beta coronavirus attachment, suggesting a more intricate mechanism of host cell invasion than previously understood.

8 Oct 2023

Unlocking the power of lectins: BOA emerges as a potent weapon against all SARS-CoV-2 variants

Researchers discover that antiviral lectins like BOA can effectively inhibit SARS-CoV-2 and its variants by targeting spike glycans, opening doors for potential pan-coronavirus treatments. The study reveals that BOA's multivalent interactions make it a potent inhibitor against a range of viral variants, offering promise for future therapeutic strategies.

14 Sep 2023

Newly discovered nanobody may lead to a treatment for Retinitis Pigmentosa

A team of scientists from the University of California, Irvine, believe they have discovered a special antibody which may lead to a treatment for Retinitis Pigmentosa, a condition that causes loss of central vision, as well as night and color vision.

7 Sep 2023

Scientists develop new technique to study sugars on immune cells

Everyone loves a sweet treat, even our cells. While we typically think of sugar as a component of our diet that gives us energy, sugars are also very important in guiding the activity of our cells.

5 Sep 2023

Review finds correlation between milk oligosaccharides and infant brain development

In a recent article published in Nutrients, researchers investigated the current evidence of the impact of milk oligosaccharides (MOS) on early life neurocognitive and brain development.

30 Aug 2023

Microbiome-directed foods boost child nutrition

Researchers reconstructed gut bacterial genomes.

21 Aug 2023

Glycans and GBPs: How their interplay shapes immunity in infection and autoimmune diseases

Researchers discuss the regulatory roles of glycans and glycan-binding proteins in modulating immune responses.

21 Aug 2023

Beneficial gut bacteria use mucus lining to stay in place, study finds

When it comes to gut health, it doesn't just matter who's invited to the party, but how they behave.

18 Aug 2023

Sulfate groups on complex sugar molecules affect brain plasticity

Can you recognize someone you haven't seen in years, but forget what you had for breakfast yesterday? Our brains constantly rearrange their circuitry to remember familiar faces or learn new skills, but the molecular basis of this process isn't well understood.

16 Aug 2023

Study explores the protective effect of transmembrane mucins against SARS-CoV-2 infection

A recent study analyzed the role played by host mucins and mucin glycans with regard to SARS-CoV-2 entry into the airway epithelial cells.

15 Aug 2023

Targeting the "don't eat me" signal may improve immunotherapy for glioblastoma

"Don't eat me!" That's how one might translate the signal that the cancer cells in a glioblastoma send to the macrophages (white blood cells specialized in removing dead and dying cellular matter) in the brain.

19 Jul 2023

Study suggests blood group A may directly influence SARS-CoV-2 infectious risk

Researchers evaluated the association between blood group A and SARS-CoV-2 infections.

29 Jun 2023

SARS-CoV-2 variants show altered glycan processing

Researchers examine spike-protein trimers from SARS-CoV-2 variants to compare the N (asparagine)-glycan landscape.

15 May 2023

Maternal diet and body composition show little impact on key milk components, genetics prevails

This study aimed to investigate the potential influence of short-term maternal diet and current body composition on human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) profiles in mature human milk. The study found a lack of clear and consistent associations between maternal nutrition and HMO concentrations in mature human milk from healthy lactating women with adequate dietary intake.

30 Apr 2023