All articles tagged with #glycans
Researchers at MIT and Stanford have developed a new immunotherapy approach using multifunctional molecules called AbLecs that block glycans on cancer cells, potentially making cancer immunotherapy effective for more patients by reversing immune suppression mechanisms.
A new study has shed light on the link between bacterial vaginosis and pregnancy complications. Researchers have discovered that Gardnerella vaginalis, a dominant bacterium in bacterial vaginosis, secretes enzymes that break down sugar molecules on the surface of vaginal cells, potentially exposing individuals to infections and serious complications. The study suggests that these enzymes dismantle the vagina's protective coating, which may contribute to pregnancy loss, preterm birth, pelvic inflammatory disease, sexually transmitted infections, and infertility. Further research is needed to fully understand the cellular origins of these complications.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have discovered that blood levels of glycans, structures made up of sugar molecules that are associated with tau levels in the brain, are altered in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. The level of a certain glycan structure in blood, denoted bisected N-acetylglucosamine, can be used to predict the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. A simple statistical model that takes into account blood glycan and tau levels, the risk gene APOE4, and a memory test can be used to predict Alzheimer’s disease to a reliability of 80% almost a decade before symptoms such as memory loss appear.