Highlights

GlycoMIP Highlights
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GlycoMIP User Facility installs first two Glyconeers® in U.S.

Meet Gottfried and Ingeborg – fully automated oligosaccharide synthesizers (Glyconeers®) from GlycoUniverse. The Glyconeers® are complemented by a suite of preparative and analytical instruments housed in the MP's synthesis facility that release resin-bound glycans, deprotect, purify, and characterize them.

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GlycoMIP introduces STEM teachers to glycan modeling tool

As part of its outreach mission, GlycoMIP provided education about glycomaterials to high-school STEM teachers through the Teacher Enrichment Program of the Center for Excellence in Education

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Novel precision glycopolymers enable fine control over interactions with carbohydrate-binding proteins

A team of researchers, led by Cassandra Callmann at The University of Texas at Austin, developed a synthesis method for glycopolymers that affords precise control over polymer length, backbone structure, and density of pendant carbohydrates. The team identified the latter to be a critical factor for lectin binding with grafting densities below 50% resulting in weaker interactions.

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Glycomaterial-based formulation outperforms superabsorbent polymer in menstrual care

A team of researchers, led by Bryan Hsu at Virginia Tech, developed a novel glycomaterial-based powder formulation, combining alginate and glycerol, that effectively congeals blood. The formulation outperformed currently used materials, specifically a cellulose-based menstrual pad filler and superabsorbent polyacrylic acid, in both menstrual pad and menstrual cup applications.

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Structure, Function, and Application of Self-Healing Adhesives from Mistletoe Viscin

Raw and purified viscin from the European Mistletoe (Viscum album) was analyzed by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy in regard to glycosyl composition, linkages, and molecular architecture.

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GlycoMIP and Structural Characterization of Bisecting N-glycans

Three mucus types in C. aspersum were characterized, including their proteins, glycosylation, ion content, and mechanical properties. Information on the macromolecular components of these hydrogels obtained by LC-NSI MS and MALDI-TOF MS included previously unreported details on the sequence, identity, and relative quantities of both N and O-linked glycans. The multifaceted characterization of these different mucus types offered unprecedented insights into their structure-function relationships. The study was reported on by multiple outlets, including NPR

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GlycoMIP "Graduates" Second Cohort of Summer Undergraduate Researchers

Working alongside FSLI’s existing SURF program, GlycoMIP has the opportunity to plug into an existing program with a long-standing history of introducing undergraduate students to graduate-level research. The SURF program provides students valuable opportunities that include professional development workshops, first-hand laboratory experience, and one-on-one mentorship by GlycoMIP faculty and staff.

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GlycoMIP Hosts 2nd Annual Summer School at VT

GlycoMIP’s second annual summer school was held in the VT GlycoMIP facility June 13-17, 2022. A diverse group of 22 academic and industry scientists from 11 different universities and companies participated in the program.

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GlycoMIP and a Novel Peptidoglycan Structure in Lyme Disease

The GlycoMIP User Facility at Virginia Tech supported the research of Dr. Brandon Jutras, an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Virginia Tech and frontier researcher in understanding, detecting and eradicating Lyme disease. Dr. Jutras has published high-impact article in Nature Microbiology revealing the glycan composition of the Lyme disease spirochaete Borrelia burgdorferi’s cell wall.

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GlycoMIP "graduates" first Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow

The GlycoMIP SURF program offers a unique path to reach and engage prospective graduate students. The existing FLSI SURF program offers GlycoMIP the opportunity to participate in an existing program that, for many years, has successfully introduced undergraduate students to graduate-level research. Through this partnership, GlycoMIP offers students a comprehensive experience, including professional development workshops, significant laboratory work, and one-on-one mentorship by a faculty member or research scientist.

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GlycoMIP inaugural Summer School reaches 200 participants

GlycoMIP hosted its first Summer School, a virtual event. The event featured 15 instructors and offered content aligned with the GlycomMIP Facilities of synthesis, analysis and modeling services.

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Comparative Glycomics Analyses of Three Functionally Distinct Secretions of the Garden Snail

The GlycoMIP In-House Research Team developed a machine learning based framework to establish appropriate MSn protocols and build effective data analysis methods for inferring glycosidic linkages in glycans. As a proof-of-principle, the approach was applied to the elucidation of sialic acid linkages (α2’-3’ and α2’-6’), using a set of sialyllactose standards and NIST sialic acid containing glycans.