Deciphering the role of glycans in health, disease, and therapeutic development

The field of glycomics is rapidly advancing as it delves into the complete array of glycans present within a cell, tissue, or organism, known as the glycome. Glycans play crucial roles as mediators in numerous physiological processes, including cell-cell communication, immune modulation, protein folding, and host-pathogen interactions. In contrast to the genome and proteome, the glycome is markedly context-dependent, evolving dynamically in response to cellular differentiation, environmental cues, and pathological conditions. Current studies are uncovering critical gaps in understanding how glycosylation impacts health and disease, highlighting the need for a deeper investigation into this intricate layer of biological regulation.This Research Topic aims to showcase the pivotal contributions of glycomics to physiological homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. By spotlighting dysregulated glycosylation and aberrant glycome profiles linked to a range of diseases, including malignancies, autoimmune disorders, infectious diseases, and congenital glycosylation disorders, this Research Topic seeks to underscore the potential of glycans as promising biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Researchers are invited to explore specific questions and hypotheses related to how the glycome influences disease mechanisms and to investigate innovative glycan-based strategies for diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy.To gather further insights within the field of glycobiology and its intersection with clinical and translational research, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:- Glycan structure-function relationships- Innovations in glycomic and glycoproteomic technologies- Disease-associated alterations in glycosylation- Glycan-targeted diagnostics and therapeutics- The role of glycans in systems biology, immunology, oncology, and translational medicineArticle types that can be submitted include high-quality original research articles, comprehensive reviews, and perspective articles. By integrating cutting-edge glycoscience with clinical research, this Research Topic aims to advance our mechanistic understanding of the glycome and foster the development of glycans as critical players in future therapeutic breakthroughs. Topic editors: Mana M Mukherjee, Miyang Li Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/74755/deciphering-the-role-of-glycans-in-health-disease-and-therapeutic-development