Synthetic methods in carbohydrate chemistry: Carbohydrates are probably the most understudied class of biomolecules. From a synthetic chemist's perspective, their structural complexity is a source of inspiration for developing creative synthetic methods to enable access to their appealing molecular architectures. Highly stereoselective glycosylation reactions and the minimal use of protecting groups are unique challenges we consider when planning our work. We are developing non-conventional synthetic methods in carbohydrate chemistry, including electrosynthesis, organometallic, and free radical methods for preparing carbohydrate antigens, rare bacterial monosaccharides, and glycomimetic drug candidates.

Carbohydrate antigens associated with neglected diseases: According to the CDC, more than 1 billion people in the world suffer from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and neglected parasitic infections (NPIs). The economically disfavored populations living in the Asian, African, and Latin American continents are the most affected by NPDs and NPIs. However, these ailments are not exclusive to developing countries. Over 300,000 people living in the US are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi -the etiological agent of Chagas disease- and Leishmaniasis (another protozoal infection) is endemic in all southern European countries. Current projects in this area focus on synthesizing carbohydrate antigens of Trypanosoma cruzi, Schistosoma mansoni, and Leishmania donovani to develop immunotherapies and diagnostic tools further.

Synthesis of high-affinity ligands for neutralizing bacterial toxins: 

Pathogenic bacteria such as Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough), Vibrio cholerae (cholera), and Clostridium difficile (nosocomial diarrhea) employ protein toxins as a primary virulence factor. These toxins are composed of a catalytic domain, which is responsible for their toxic effects, and a carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD), which binds to sugar receptors on target cell surfaces to facilitate toxin uptake. Our research focuses on synthesizing carbohydrate-based small-molecule inhibitors that target the CRD of these virulence factors. The goal is to develop high-affinity ligands that can neutralize the toxin and prevent disease. Current efforts also involve investigating bifunctional molecules to design more effective toxin ligands.