Contacts:
Supervisor(s):
Prof. Sabrina Taliani and Dott. Luana Panichi
PhD project Title:
Unraveling Structural Features behind Epitope Specificity of Saccharide-Based Vaccines
Abstract of the PhD project:
In recent years, the study of saccharide-based immunity has gained increasing relevance in the field of vaccine research, particularly for fighting encapsulated bacterial pathogens. Capsular polysaccharides, which form the outermost protective layer of many bacteria, play a central role in virulence and immune recognition. These complex carbohydrate structures represent strategic targets for the development of innovative vaccines. However, a comprehensive understanding of the molecular determinants guiding immune recognition remains limited, partly due to the structural heterogeneity and conformational flexibility of polysaccharides
This PhD project aims to advance current knowledge by dissecting the immune responses induced by capsular polysaccharide antigens and identifying the structural bases of antibody specificity and cross-reactivity. The work will focus on the generation of well-defined oligosaccharide fragments, followed by the isolation and detailed characterization of monoclonal antibodies that recognize serotype-specific or cross-reactive epitopes within polysaccharide families. To ensure robust and reproducible results, the project will employ a suite of high resolution analytical platforms, including NMR spectroscopy, surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and X-ray crystallography, to elucidate antigen–antibody interactions at atomic detail. In silico molecular dynamics simulations will be integrated to model the conformational behavior of saccharide epitopes and to predict binding determinants underlying specificity versus cross-reactivity. The combined experimental and computational approach is expected to generate unprecedented insight into the structural requirements for effective immune recognition.
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