Making sulfated sugar decorations on proteins (N- and O-glycans)
Programable Modular Synthesis of Sulfated N-Glycans and O-Glycans
This work builds reliable ways to make sulfated sugar pieces on proteins so scientists can learn how they affect infections and immune responses in airway conditions like cystic fibrosis.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11223309 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you have a lung infection or cystic fibrosis, this project is building a toolkit of precisely made sulfated sugar structures that sit on proteins. Researchers will produce many different sulfated N- and O-glycans in a modular way so they can test which exact shapes and sulfate positions change how microbes or immune cells bind. The team will use these synthetic glycans to study interactions with immune receptors that matter for airway inflammation and infection. The goal is to fill gaps in knowledge that simple or partial molecules could not answer before.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with airway infections or cystic fibrosis who are interested in research about how sugar modifications on proteins affect infection and immunity would be most directly connected to the goals of this work.
Not a fit: Patients with unrelated conditions or those expecting an immediate new treatment are unlikely to see direct personal benefit from this laboratory-focused synthesis project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could reveal molecular mechanisms that lead to better diagnostics or therapies targeting how microbes and immune cells interact with airway tissues.
How similar studies have performed: Some prior studies have shown that sulfation can change immune receptor binding (for example L‑selectin and certain Siglecs), but a comprehensive, systematic synthesis of sulfated N- and O-glycans is novel.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Georgia State University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Lei — Georgia State University
- Study coordinator: Li, Lei
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.