Anti-adhesion Drugs
Pathogens, including protists, bacteria and viruses, are among humanity’s most significant and worthy adversaries. A great deal can be learned about fundamental biological processes by studying these supposedly simple organisms. Our lab is interested in developing new tools—based on label-free carbohydrate arrays—to study the roles played by glycans in mediating adhesion between pathogen and host. The ultimate goal of studying host-pathogen interactions is to design new means for disrupting pathogenesis.

Biomimetic Biomaterials: Nature has a great deal to offer when it comes to novel biomaterials. An especially remarkable material made by many pathogens is the cyst wall biopolymer, a natural stealth biomaterial. Many protozoan pathogens encyst to form a resilient and infectious cyst or spore, including Giardia, Entamoeba, Toxoplasma, Cryptosporidium, Acanthamoeba, Microsporidia, and Cyclospora. A mixture of carbohydrate and protein polymers, the cyst or oocyst wall protects the parasite during its passage between hosts, enabling the cell to resist bacterial degradation, shielding the cell from the hydrolytic environment of an animal’s digestive tract, and evading host immunity. Our lab is studying these biopolymers with an eye for designing materials based on their unique properties and composition.

Glycoproteomics
Carbohydrates can be used as molecular biomarkers, providing a window into cellular processes, wound healing, tissue differentiation, pathogen virulence and host-pathogen interactions. Utilizing mass spectrometry, the Ratner lab is identifying carbohydrate-modified proteins critical to infectious diseases—including malaria, giardiasis, trichomoniasis and amoebic dysentery. This research is being used to develop an understanding of enteric pathogens, to provide candidates for diagnostics and vaccine development, and to illuminate the molecular mechanisms of infection.