# Characterization of lectins to understand human microbiome functions and develop live biotherapeutics

> **NIH NIH R01** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2024 · $356,928

## Abstract

Project Summary
Almost all living cells use specific non-enzymatic carbohydrate binding proteins (e.g. lectins) to recognize
carbohydrate ligands for cellular trafficking, signaling and defense. The systematic study of lectins and their
carbohydrate ligands has improved our understanding of human health and the high specificity of lectins for
certain cellular interactions has made them a valuable resource for therapeutic discovery. In previous research,
my laboratory suggested that human commensal microbiota utilize lectins (e.g. human-microbial-lectins) to
regulate a complex network of host-microbe interactions beyond those mediated by simple pattern recognition
receptors and conserved microbial metabolites. Furthermore, our characterization of a highly prevalent human-
microbial-lectin Cbeg5 suggests this specific lectin may regulate fundamental human myeloid cell interactions
integral to normal microbiome homeostasis. As such, the central hypothesis of this proposal is that the study
of Cbeg5 and other human-microbial-lectins will elucidate microbiome functions relevant to human health and
which can be developed therapeutically. We will advance this hypothesis through three aims to define (1) how
Cbeg5 regulates distinct myeloid cell populations, (2) the potential to develop Cbeg5 as a therapeutic for
inflammatory bowel disease, and (3) to explore the larger network of microbiome interactions regulated by
human-microbial lectins.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10833063
- **Project number:** 5R01DK135675-02
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Louis Jared Cohen
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $356,928
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-05-01 → 2028-02-29

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10833063

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10833063, Characterization of lectins to understand human microbiome functions and develop live biotherapeutics (5R01DK135675-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10833063. Licensed CC0.

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