Engineering Molecular Recognition at the
Protein-Glycan Interface
We integrate glycobiology, protein engineering, synthetic biology, computational modeling, and immunoengineering to understand and engineer protein–glycan interactions for next-generation therapeutics, diagnostics, vaccines, and targeted drug delivery.
Engineering programmable glycan-binding proteins
We engineer proteins with programmable glycan recognition by integrating directed evolution, protein engineering, and high-throughput screening. These approaches enable us to uncover design principles that control protein–glycan affinity and specificity.
Glycan-targeted immunoengineering and drug delivery
We engineer protein- and glycan-based targeting strategies to control how therapeutic payloads interact with specific cells and immune populations. Our work explores targeted delivery, antigen presentation, immune modulation, and the development of next-generation vaccines and immunotherapies.
Protein–glycan interactions in infection and disease
We investigate how protein–glycan interactions shape microbial colonization, biofilm formation, immune recognition, and disease. By identifying and manipulating these interactions, we aim to uncover new therapeutic strategies, including engineered lectins and combination therapies to combat antimicrobial-resistant infections.
Computational and predictive glycobiology
We combine molecular modeling, simulation, structural bioinformatics, and machine learning with experimental measurements to understand and predict protein–glycan recognition. Our long-term goal is to develop predictive frameworks that connect protein sequence and structure with glycan-binding affinity and specificity.