A route to 'bionic glycoproteins' via automated oligosaccharide synthesis

Automated oligosaccharide synthesis is potentially revolutionary for the fields of synthetic carbohydrate chemistry and glycobiology. Yet further progress in this area will require redesign existing solution phase glycosylation conditions for challenging linkages such as beta-mannosides. In this project we will utilise a combination of solution and automated synthetic carbohydrate chemistry to develop new glycosylation methods amenable to the solid phase. We will then deploy these methods to synthesise oligosaccharides which will be combined with novel protein modification methods to afford 'bionic glycoproteins' for the treatment of infectious disease.