Bacterial glycosyltransferases in molecular mimicry

What is it about?

Many pathogenic bacteria produce carbohydrates normally found in humans. This cloaking device helps them evade the immune system. How are these made? Can we learn to fight these pathogens by identifying new drug targets unique to pathogens?

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Why is it important?

In an effort to find new targets for anti-microbials, the enzymes for bacterial carbohydrate cloaking are being examined. Many of these enzymes have been very well characterized at the molecular level, and inhibitors can be now be envisioned.