Glycobiology and Tumor Immunology

Proteins and carbohydrates (sugars) interaction plays an essential role in several cellular processes, such as cell proliferation and differentiation, as well as in different diseases, including viruses, bacteria and parasites infections. To perform these specialized functions, some types of carbohydrates bind to proteins creating complex structures called glycoproteins, which are found on the surface of cells and which influence cellular communication. Glycobiology is a discipline that studies the structure and function of carbohydrates as entities linked to cell function.

Our laboratory is focused on the identification and study of some alterations of glycosylation in cancer. Altered glycosylation produces some structures that are tumour-specific. Against them, we generate different types of biotechnological developments in view of their biomedical application. Our lines of research are oriented to understand characteristics of tumour biology and, especially, to develop new molecular procedures in view of their application to the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Image: Human colon cancer identified by anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies. Left: Malignant colon tumour (positive).Right: Adjacent normal colonic mucosa (negative).