Pathogen glycan array update: March 2010 After three years of careful planning and significant input from Participating Investigators, the CFG announced the release of a pathogen glycan array in September 2008. This pathogen array was intended for investigators wishing to screen mammalian glycan-binding proteins (GBPs) in order to explore the roles of these proteins in innate immune detection of microbial carbohydrates. The array proved to be a highly accurate and sensitive assay for GBP specificity in preliminary screening studies. However, before any screening requests could be processed, funding for the pathogen glycan array was cut and the CFG was ordered to cease development and use of this array immediately. The CFG is currently seeking alternative funding for the pathogen glycan array. This site will be updated as more information becomes available. The original pathogen glycan array (version 1.0) had 96 glycan targets representing E. coli, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Providencia alcalifaciens, Providencia rustigianii, Providencia stuartii, Shigella boydii, and Shigella dysennteriae, largely provided by Dr. Yuri Knirel's group at the ND Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry in Moscow, Russia. Pathogen array v1.0 was engineered by coupling these bacterial polysaccharides to NHS-activated glass slides, the common platform utilized for the currently available mammalian glycan array. A second version of the array was already in development. Screening Although the CFG's pathogen array was discontinued, some initial array slides remain. To apply these most effectively toward meeting the CFG's overall goal, the Steering Committee (SC) considered a pool of 75 specific and general suggestions made in the October 2008 PI survey, three Resource Requests, and several personal communications. In their January 14, 2009 meeting, the SC decided to give pathogen array screening priority to representative galectins and C-type lectins that are important to the CFG and that have been shown to recognize pathogens. If you have input regarding the selection or source of high priority C-type lectins, please contact your Subgroup Leader via email or Nature Network forum. More information on the pathogen glycan array Bacterial polysaccharides obtained by the CFG Antibodies and antisera Proposed nomenclature Design and validation of printed pathogen glycan array Preliminary screening data |
Glycans obtained for the Pathogen Array
