The glycobiology of immunity and infection

Friday, November 08, 2013 — Concurrent Symposia Session IV
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	FAES Academic Center lower-level Classroom 8

Chair

Pamela Marino, NIGMS

Program

This session will highlight the important roles played by glycoconjugates in both the innate and adaptive immune systems, and how an improved understanding of the functions of glycans may be leveraged for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. Immune homeostasis is dependent upon both intra and extracellular glycan mediated interactions. Intracellular post-translational glycosylation events play a central role in the regulation of immune cell function, particularly in the activation processes of T and B lymphocytes. Extracellular glycans coat the outer membranes of all mammalian cells, as well those of eukaryotic and prokaryotic pathogens. The development of glycan arrays, which allow high throughput screening of carbohydrate-mediated interactions have proven extremely helpful in defining the interactions of microorganisms, determining mechanisms of infection, and in the development of specific antibody based vaccines. Research in this area seeks to exploit this expanding knowledge for translational medicine.

Glycan-dependent signaling is a conserved regulator of immunity
John Hanover, NIDDK

The nutrient sensor O-GlcNAc transferase is a critical component of the C. elegans innate immune system; FARE Award Winner
Michelle Bond, NIDDK

Towards glycoconjugate vaccines against noncapsulated bacteria: Investigation of bordetella and brucella endotoxins
Joanna Kubler-Kielb, NICHD

Glyco-immunomics based approaches for improving cancer vaccine efficacy
Jeff Gildersleeve, NCI

Glycosylation and glycan binding in influenza infection and pathogenesis
Kanta Subbarao, NIAID