Current Research

Active research projects in the group are focused on the challenging task of reproducibly creating nanomolar oligosaccharide based inhibitors for carbohydrate binding proteins, and the elucidation of the structural basis of unique molecular recognition of carbohydrate antigens by the immune system. Chemical synthesis and structural biology are central elements in nearly all projects.

To date successful outcomes have included a nanomolar inhibitor of the Shiga like toxin from E. coli O157:H7 (Nature, 403, 669-672, 2000) followed by a second generation approach that has resulted in a simplified molecule that can neutralize this toxin in-vivo (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci (USA), 105, 16837-16842, 2008).

Research funding in the form of operating and equipment grants to support these general objectives is derived from several sources, Alberta Innovates (formerly Alberta Ingenuity), the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research and the National Institutes of Health. Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows also hold competitive fellowships with some of these granting agencies.
 
Currently funded research projects include:

• Novel approaches in the design of conjugate vaccines to combat microbial infections
• "Candida albicans Conjugate Vaccines: Evaluation of synthetic β-mannan oligosaccharides conjugated to immunogenic carriers in rabbit and mouse models of experimental candidiasis."
• Heterobifunctional ligands as mediators of targeted protein aggregation
• "Multivalence assisted supramolecular assembly in biological systems."

Group facilities and special equipment

The group is well equipped to carry out synthetic and biological aspects of research on complex carbohydrates. In addition to the standard items for performing organic chemistry, other equipment includes preparative HPLC for organic and protein samples, isothermal titration microcalorimeter, UV and visible ELISA plate readers and washers, centrifuges, ultrafiltration devices and spectrophotometers. We maintain a dedicated tissue culture facility with the capability to grow mammalian cells in stationary flasks, roller bottles, shaker flasks and bioreactors. In addition to a full complement of PC to support routine work in the group, we operate Linux based graphics workstations.

Department Facilities

Support services within the Department are amongst the best in North America and include electronic, glass blowing and machine shops (www.chem.ualberta.ca/facres.htm). Resources available include state-of-the-art facilities in:

• Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, Varian700, 600, 500, 400 and 300 MHz spectrometers ( http://nmr.chem.ualberta.ca/AOWWW/index.htm)
  
• Mass Spectrometry,
  
• X-ray crystallography,
  
• Surface plasmon resonance.

Also available on campus at the University of Alberta are the facilities and resources of the following:

• 800 MHz National High Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Centre (NANUC),
  
• Institute for Biodesign,
  
• Health Sciences Laboratory Animal Services
  
• Alberta Research Council’s Carbohydrates and Biotechnology groups,
  
• The Protein Engineering Center of Excellence (PENCE).
  
• The Lemieux Collection of Complex Carbohydrate Compounds,
  
• The Chembiomed Collection of Compound Antibodies and Antibody Cell Lines.