The Crossroads of Glycoscience, Infection, and Immunology.

Tanya R Mckitrick,Gregory A Hudalla,Tamara L Doering,Clay S Bennett,Margaret E Ackerman,Katharina Ribbeck,Loretta Yang,Christina M Woo,Ronald L Schnaar,Robert M Anthony,Michael Demetriou,Seth J Zost,Stefan Ruhl

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2021.731008

Abstract

Advances in experimental capabilities in the glycosciences offer expanding opportunities for discovery in the broad areas of immunology and microbiology. These two disciplines overlap when microbial infection stimulates host immune responses and glycan structures are central in the processes that occur during all such encounters. Microbial glycans mediate host-pathogen interactions by acting as surface receptors or ligands, functioning as virulence factors, impeding host immune responses, or playing other roles in the struggle between host and microbe. In the context of the host, glycosylation drives cell–cell interactions that initiate and regulate the host response and modulates the effects of antibodies and soluble immune mediators. This perspective reports on a workshop organized jointly by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research in May 2020. The conference addressed the use of emerging glycoscience tools and resources to advance investigation of glycans and their roles in microbe-host interactions, immune-mediated diseases, and immune cell recognition and function. Future discoveries in these areas will increase fundamental scientific understanding and have the potential to improve diagnosis and treatment of infections and immune dysregulation.

Highlights

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (May 27–28, 2020), an NIH workshop on “Glycoscience and Immunology at the Crossroads of Biology” was convened on-line
Infection and immunity represent two views of the events that occur during and after encounters between pathogenic microbes and their hosts. Understanding how these events unfold from each vantage point has been critical for the development of modern immunology and microbiology and for the development of strategies to treat immune dysregulation and infectious disease
The workshop presentations briefly reviewed above highlight the importance of research in glycobiology for the advancement of fundamental knowledge and human health

Summary

Introduction

During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic (May 27–28, 2020), an NIH workshop on “Glycoscience and Immunology at the Crossroads of Biology” was convened on-line. Infection and immunity represent two views of the events that occur during and after encounters between pathogenic microbes and their hosts. Glycans play key roles in infection and immunity: Pathogen glycans may mediate host interactions and stimulate or inhibit host immune responses, while host glycans may serve as specific targets of microbial adhesion molecules or toxins (Varki and Gagneux, 2015).

Results

Conclusion