glycan biosynthesis modulates host immune cell recognition and response.

Introduction: The pathogenic bacterium has evolved glycan-mediated mechanisms to evade host immune defenses. This study tests the hypothesis that genetic disruption of glycan biosynthesis alters immune recognition and response by human gastric epithelial cells and monocyte-derived dendritic cells.

Methods: To test this hypothesis, human cell lines were challenged with wildtype alongside an array of glycosylation mutants.

Person-specific differences in ubiquitin-proteasome mediated proteostasis in human neurons.

Background: Impairment of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) has been implicated in abnormal protein accumulation in Alzheimer's disease. It remains unclear if genetic variation affects the intrinsic properties of neurons that render some individuals more vulnerable to UPS impairment.

Methods: Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons were generated from over 50 genetically variant and highly characterized participants of cohorts of aging.

Chemical tools to study bacterial glycans: a tale from discovery of glycoproteins to disruption of their function.

Bacteria coat themselves with a dense array of cell envelope glycans that enhance bacterial fitness and promote survival. Despite the importance of bacterial glycans, their systematic study and perturbation remains challenging. Chemical tools have made important inroads toward understanding and altering bacterial glycans.