# Carbohydrate epitope discovery via chemical synthesis

> **NIH NIH P01** · SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE · 2023 · $212,276

## Abstract

Abstract
The human immune system is capable of eliminating nearly any type of infectious agent; however, in many cases
it must be “instructed” how to recognize specific pathogens. Bacteria have evolved means of evading aspects
of immunity by cloaking themselves in polymeric sugars (glycans), and the first interactions between bacteria
and the immune system involve these glycans. While this cloaking mechanism can protect bacteria from potent
immune responses, it can also be an exploitable weakness. Our collaborative group, borrowing on work from
many pioneering scientists, has developed means of using this cloaking mechanism to “instruct” the immune
system to selectively target specific types of bacteria. In this Project, we are preparing the specific instructions
for adaptive immunity, which will result in production of highly specific antibodies for the targeted bacteria. The
targeted bacteria include some of the most prevalent and dangerous human pathogens, including drug-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. In this project, we are investigating
how antibodies recognize specific sections of the polymeric glycans produced by bacteria. This investigation
involves preparation of individual sections of the glycans, comprised of two, three or four sugars. From these
sections, vaccines will be generated that will trigger production of high-affinity antibodies for each individual
section. These antibodies will be evaluated for how well they bind to the polymeric glycan and to intact bacteria
and how well these antibodies function in promoting elimination the targeted bacteria by the immune system.
From information generated by the study of the performance of antibodies generated to specific sections of the
polymeric glycan, we will learn which portions of the glycan can be bound by antibodies and how large of section
provides the strongest and most selective binding. Outcomes of this research include an understanding the size
and nature of bacterial glycans that can be used for vaccine generation and for the development of high-affinity
antibodies that will provide a means of treating bacterial infections.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10549645
- **Project number:** 1P01AI172525-01
- **Recipient organization:** SCRIPPS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, THE
- **Principal Investigator:** PAUL B SAVAGE
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $212,276
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-05-09 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10549645

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10549645, Carbohydrate epitope discovery via chemical synthesis (1P01AI172525-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10549645. Licensed CC0.

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