A bispecific, crosslinking lectibody activates cytotoxic T cells and induces cancer cell death

A fascinating novel concept of cancer research using lectibodies, a bispecific construct composed of a lectin linked to an antibody fragment. This approach aims to redirect the immune system into fighting cancer by targeting altered glycans at the surface of malignant cells.
The University of Freiburgacib GmbH – Francesca RosatoRajeev P.Jana TomischAna Valeria Meléndez MayorgaDajana Kolanovic, Olga Makshakova, Birgit Wiltschi, Winfried Römer 

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Top 10 stories from GlycoNet in 2022

Do you also have the sensation that the achievements and success of others inspire you to do more and better? If so, this collection of GlycoNet goes well with your Friday coffee:

10 success stories from 2022 in glycomics:


1. Alectos Therapeutics Inc. – Ernest McEachern
2. Université de Montréal – Mariela Segura
3. GlyCa Biosciences, Huron Innovation – Hon Leong, John Klassen, Karla Williams, and John Trant.
4. Carolyn BertozziMorten MeldalBarry Sharples – no comment needed
5. Karimah Es Sabar and GlycoNet
6. INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier – Yves St-Pierre
7. Université Laval – Masahiko Sato, Ann Rancourt, Sachiko Sato, Julie-Christine LévesqueGuillaume St-Pierre, and Maude F.
8-10. University of Alberta – Christopher CairoMatthew MacauleySimonetta Sipione

See detailed information on the GlycoNet website

Asterivir develops CD-based broad-spectrum antiviral

New kid on the block: Asterivir’s website has just gone live. Asterivir – a spinout from EPFL (École Polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne) – develops CD-based broad spectrum antivirals lead by Francesco StellacciPaulo Jacob Silva and Oscar Buset. The initial findings of the company were published earlier (Caroline Tapparel Vu et al. )
The website contains nice video graphics of the mechanism of action, which is worth checking!

See the website here

Evidence of redox imbalance and mitochondrial dysfunction in Niemann-Pick type C 1 patients: the in vitro effect of combined therapy with antioxidants and β‐cyclodextrin nanoparticles

This research contributes to a better understanding of the mechanism of action of #cyclodextrin in Niemann Pick C, which could lead to further applications. Carmen Vargas – Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul evaluated naked and nanoparticle CDs for restoring mitochondrial functions, as well as the beneficial combined effects of treatment with antioxidant N-Acetylcysteine and Coenzyme Q10
Tatiane HammerschmidtBruna DonidaJéssica Lamberty FaverzaniFernanda PolettoDinara Jaqueline Moura

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Two papers on the uses of hyper-branched CD-polymer:

Fresh from the oven of the Francesco Trotta and Adrián Matencio Durán (Università degli Studi di Torino) lab, two papers on the uses of hyper-branched CD-polymer:
No 1: use as an anticoagulant, which is a very innovative application for CDs that are getting more and more spotlight

See the full article here

No 2: use as transfection promoters of plasmids.

See the full article here.

I congratulate you on this ambitious research goal, loved both papers and look forward to seeing from sprouting from the collaboration you recently started with CarboHyde!
Yousef Khazaei monfaredMohammad MahmoudianClaudio CeconeFabrizio CalderaSanya HaiatyReza RahbarghaziParvin Zakeri-MilaniGjylije HotiFabrizio CalderaRoberta Cavalli

APOE4 impairs myelination via cholesterol dysregulation in oligodendrocytes

Understanding the mechanism of action is crucial in order to develop truly efficient cyclodextrin-based actives. Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s study on Alzheimer’s disease reveals correlations between APOE4, cholesterol transport, and therapeutic opportunities for CDs.
Important study Joel Blanchard, Li-Huei Tsai et al.

See the full article on nature.com