This page contains some recent publications that we believe are of special interest.  If you would like to suggest further publications please contact Mirko von Elstermann

Tissue integrity, gene expression and protein secretion 

are stronlgy influenced by numerous  alterations  of  cellular  glycosylation  

through an increased  physiological  glucose level  as  occurring  in diabetes.

Glycans in immune response: KNOW THYSELF                           
Glycans interacting with glycan-binding
proteins determine T- and B-cell survival –
which may be harnessed to defeat B-cell
leukemias – , and glycolipids identified on
antigen presenting cells, which activate
natural killer T cells, are altered by bacterial
antigens. More ....

Bananas and AIDS  What's the connection ?    

Banana Lectin: A First Aid against AIDS?
Banana Lectin (BanLec) prevents attachment of the human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) to immune cells and is well adapted to HIV tropism (the viral targeting of diverse
immune cell receptors).Thus it might become a microbicide against HIV infection.

 Read more about this recent development

Tumour cells of adrenal gland cancer

  Role of glycans in cancer

If cancers were restricted to tumours in situ, the disease would be a great deal easier to fight
and, except for brain tumours, claim fewer deaths. In most cases, migrating tumour  cells
leading to metastases eventually cause the patient's death.   

Read more