Grant: Project Grant

Mucous layers of the human body provide a physical barrier that protects tissues from challenge by disease causing microorganisms. These sticky layers are formed mainly by gelforming proteins that are highly modified with carbohydrates that are attached the protein. These so-called mucins are key to the protective role of the mucous layer. Bacteria that encounter mucous layer to colonize them or during infection use specialized enzymes to breakdown the mucin. This research aims to understand how these enzymes, which we call O-glycopeptidases, destroy mucins and thereby aid the bacteria to establish residence and/or disease in humans.