Synthesis of bacterial glycoconjugates and their bio-functional studies in innate immunity

Immunostimulating glycoconjugates from bacteria were synthesized for elucidation of the recognition with innate immune receptors. Synthesis of partial structures and analogues of lipopolysaccharide and its bioactive principle 'lipid A' contributed the elucidation of mode of action, i.e., interaction of lipopolysaccharide with its receptor 'TLR4/MD-2 complex'. Immunomodulation by parasitic bacteria -Helicobacter pylori' was elucidated by using synthetic lipopolysaccharide partial structures. Intracellular peptidoglycan receptors, 'Nod1' and 'Nod2', and their ligand structures were identified by using synthetic peptidoglycan partial structures. New Nod1 ligands were identified from the bacterial supernatant. In vivo function of Nod1 was studied by using synthetic ligands found from small library of Nod1 ligands.