Unravelling the immunology of complex glycolipids by chemical synthesis

该项目旨在开发化学合成细菌和真菌糖脂的新方法，并从分子水平了解它们对免疫系统的影响。细菌和真菌糖脂是外来的化学物种，作为危险信号，以启动和调节我们的先天免疫反应。这些复杂的糖脂具有强大的免疫活性，继续塑造我们对先天免疫的理解，但不能从天然来源获得所需的数量和纯度。预计将在该项目中开发的方法将用于通过模式识别受体和专业糖脂抗原呈递分子的呈递来阐明免疫信号传导的分子细节。结果可能包括通过整合免疫系统的资源来对抗疾病和促进健康的新方法。

This project seeks to develop new approaches to chemically synthesise bacterial and fungal glycolipids and develop a molecular-level understanding of their effect on the immune system. Bacterial and fungal glycolipids are exotic chemical species that act as danger signals to prime and modulate our innate immune responses. These complex glycolipids possess powerful immunological activities that continue to shape our understanding of innate immunity, yet cannot be acquired from natural sources in the quantities and purity needed. The approaches expected to be developed in the project will be used to illuminate molecular details of immune signalling through pattern recognition receptors and presentation on specialised glycolipid antigen-presenting molecules. Outcomes may include new ways to fight disease and promote health by marshalling the resources of the immune system.