The Role of Glycosylation in Host-Microbial Interactions

Dear Colleagues,

Carbohydrates are ubiquitously present on all living cell surfaces and as major extracellular matrix components that play critical biological roles in human health and disease. Although many aspects of the field of glycoscience encompassing structural complexity and functional relevance are still not well understood, significant advances have been made since the turn of the century elucidating the central roles played by carbohydrate–protein interactions.

One major field of advance in glycoscience and its role in biology is in the domain of host–microbial interactions. Most microbial interactions with host surfaces are mediated by carbohydrate–protein interactions to establish pathogenic or commensal relationships. In addition to the roles identified in host–pathogen interactions, our understanding of the role of gastrointestinal tract mucosal surface in colonisation of the host gut by commensal microbiome is in its infancy. Mucins are the main components of host mucus, and mucin glycosylation functions as ligands for bacterial adhesins and as a source of microbial nutrients. Mucin glycosylation is very responsive to the immediate environment and varies depending on species, location in the body, hormonal status, inflammation, and presence of microbes. In addition, microbes can interact with the host via their surface glycosylation, and this may provide vaccine targets, e.g., bacterial capsular polysaccharides have been used as vaccines such as pneumococcal vaccines. Many factors, including diet, influence gut glycosylation and the microbial population and thus have an impact on their interactions and cross-talk, thus effecting human gut health and disease.

This Issue will elucidate the role of microbial or host glycosylation in host–microbe interactions in human health and disease.

Prof. Dr. Lokesh Joshi
Dr. Michelle Kilcoyne
Guest Editors

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