Immunoglycomics
Group Leader: Dr Bridget Stocker
In the same way that genomics and proteomics have fuelled discoveries in all biological sciences, glycomics, the unravelling of the role of glycoconjugates in biological processes, is now thought to be an emerging research field that will generate significant new scientific knowledge.
Though it is known that glycoconjugates play critical roles in cellular events, such as cell signalling, bacterial and viral infection, and the metastasis of tumour cells, detailed knowledge about the identity and mode of action of the glycoconjugates involved is lacking. This is largely because few research groups in the world have the right complement of chemical and immunological skills necessary for the synthesis and testing of key substrates.
To meet this need, we have
established an Immunoglycomics research initiative between the Malaghan
Institute of Medical Research and Victoria University of Wellington (VUW), with
the purpose of bringing New
Zealand to the forefront of this exciting new
research discipline.
Through the synthesis of complex glycans, the Immunoglycomics programme focuses on understanding the role of carbohydrates in the immune response and has several areas of disease focus including asthma, cancer and tuberculosis.
