# Integrating microbial glycan arrays with genomic sequences to study host microbe interactions

> **NIH NIH U01** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $510,008

## Abstract

Summary: While successful immunity relies on the ability of host immune factors to rapidly recognize and
respond to a variety of microbial determinants, microbial glycans often serve as the first and most important
contact point with host immune factors. However, the binding specificity of most innate and adaptive immune
factors toward microbial glycans remains largely unknown. Furthermore, despite the near universal use of
genomic sequencing approaches to characterize microbiota, these methods largely fail to identify microbes
based upon their unique glycan signatures, precluding the identification of distinct microbial strains with relevant
glycan structures when using this approach. In order to effectively overcome current limitations in the study of
host-microbial interactions, a platform must be developed that can be used by a wide variety of investigators to
define how hosts interact with microbial glycans. Our long-term goal is to develop an integrated platform of
microbial glycans and genomic sequences that can be used to define the network of innate and adaptive immune
interactions with microbial glycans by a wide range of investigators. Our hypothesis is that microbial glycan
arrays populated with pathogens and host microbiota coupled with corresponding genomic sequences will
provide a unique and broadly useful strategy to define the specificity of host immune factors toward microbial
glycans. Our hypothesis is formulated on the basis of our recent discoveries that innate and adaptive immune
factors can interact with a variety of distinct microbial glycans using a platform populated with intact microbes
and their corresponding microbial glycans printed in a microarray format. As microbial communities are
extremely diverse, our preliminary data also demonstrate that microbes can be specifically isolated from a
complex microbial mixture and that microbes and their respective glycans can be similarly printed and
interrogated for host immune factor interactions. Furthermore, the genomic library generated from these isolated
microbes can be successfully incorporated into traditional approaches designed to study host-microbial
interactions, directly democratizing the field. In order to provide the breadth of microbial coverage needed to
effectively assess host microbial interactions, we will build on these initial findings to develop an integrated set
of tools that will be broadly available to the scientific community through the following specific aims: Specific
Aim 1: Develop integrated microbial glycan arrays and genomic databases populated with known pathogens.
Specific Aim 2: Develop integrated microbial glycan arrays and genomic databases populated with normal
microbial flora highlighted by interactions with host immune factors. Given the fundamental nature of host
interactions with microbial glycans and the documented success of array platforms in “democratizing” the field
of glycosciences, the integrated tools developed in this propos...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10290100
- **Project number:** 7U01CA242109-03
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** RICHARD D CUMMINGS
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $510,008
- **Award type:** 7
- **Project period:** 2019-07-03 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10290100

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10290100, Integrating microbial glycan arrays with genomic sequences to study host microbe interactions (7U01CA242109-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10290100. Licensed CC0.

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