Chemical biology approaches to designing defined carbohydrate vaccines

Chakkumkal Anish; Benjamin Schumann; Claney Lebev Pereira; Peter H Seeberger

doi:10.1016/j.chembiol.2014.01.002

Chemical biology approaches to designing defined carbohydrate vaccines

Chem Biol. 2014 Jan 16;21(1):38-50. doi: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2014.01.002.

Authors

Chakkumkal Anish¹, Benjamin Schumann², Claney Lebev Pereira³, Peter H Seeberger⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department for Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam, Germany. Electronic address: chakkumkal.anish@mpikg.mpg.de.
² Department for Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam, Germany; Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
³ Department for Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam, Germany.
⁴ Department for Biomolecular Systems, Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14424 Potsdam, Germany; Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 22, 14195 Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: peter.seeberger@mpikg.mpg.de.

PMID: 24439205
DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2014.01.002

Abstract

Carbohydrate antigens have shown promise as important targets for developing effective vaccines and pathogen detection strategies. Modifying purified microbial glycans through synthetic routes or completely synthesizing antigenic motifs are attractive options to advance carbohydrate vaccine development. However, limited knowledge on structure-property correlates hampers the discovery of immunoprotective carbohydrate epitopes. Recent advancements in tools for glycan modification, high-throughput screening of biological samples, and 3D structural analysis may facilitate antigen discovery process. This review focuses on advances that accelerate carbohydrate-based vaccine development and various technologies that are driving these efforts. Herein we provide a critical overview of approaches and resources available for rational design of better carbohydrate antigens. Structurally defined and fully synthetic oligosaccharides, designed based on molecular understanding of antigen-antibody interactions, offer a promising alternative for developing future carbohydrate vaccines.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Antigen-Antibody Reactions
Antigens / chemistry
Antigens / immunology
Drug Design*
Humans
Polysaccharides / chemical synthesis*
Polysaccharides / chemistry
Polysaccharides / immunology*
Vaccines / chemical synthesis*
Vaccines / chemistry
Vaccines / immunology*

Substances

Antigens
Polysaccharides
Vaccines