Studying molecular recognition of natural and derivatised peptidoglycans by innate immune receptors for the design of improved immunomodulators

The immune system of higher organisms is using innate immune receptors to fight pathogenic bacteria by recognizing molecular signatures unique to the bacteria but absent from the host. Bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan (PGN), a polymer of disaccharide-pentapeptide repeating units, is one of the most important molecular patterns recognised by innate immune receptors. PGN can stimulate immune defences even without the presence of an infection, therefore it can act as a very potent adjuvant, which is a crucial component of vaccines. Unfortunately, PGN in traditional vaccines has too many side effects to be used in humans, however, its fragments and derivatives can also elicit immune response. In this project we are investigating the molecular recognition of PGNs and related molecules by innate immune receptors at the molecular level using a combination of NMR spectroscopy and computational methods. We investigate the involvement of the Mannose Receptor in PGN recognition, which has not been shown to date.

Krisztina.Feher@UGent.be