Issue 3, 2024

Sialic acids in infection and their potential use in detection and protection against pathogens

Abstract

In structural terms, the sialic acids are a large family of nine carbon sugars based around an alpha-keto acid core. They are widely spread in nature, where they are often found to be involved in molecular recognition processes, including in development, immunology, health and disease. The prominence of sialic acids in infection is a result of their exposure at the non-reducing terminus of glycans in diverse glycolipids and glycoproteins. Herein, we survey representative aspects of sialic acid structure, recognition and exploitation in relation to infectious diseases, their diagnosis and prevention or treatment. Examples covered span influenza virus and Covid-19, Leishmania and Trypanosoma, algal viruses, Campylobacter, Streptococci and Helicobacter, and commensal Ruminococci.

Graphical abstract: Sialic acids in infection and their potential use in detection and protection against pathogens

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
24 8 2023
Accepted
12 12 2023
First published
19 12 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

RSC Chem. Biol., 2024,5, 167-188

Sialic acids in infection and their potential use in detection and protection against pathogens

S. Dedola, S. Ahmadipour, P. de Andrade, A. N. Baker, A. N. Boshra, S. Chessa, M. I. Gibson, P. J. Hernando, I. M. Ivanova, J. E. Lloyd, M. J. Marín, A. J. Munro-Clark, G. Pergolizzi, S. Richards, I. Ttofi, B. A. Wagstaff and R. A. Field, RSC Chem. Biol., 2024, 5, 167 DOI: 10.1039/D3CB00155E

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