In addition to their usage as energy sources, carbohydrates serve as molecular markers for cellular recognition processes, especially in distinguishing host cells and invading microbes. We are interested in the molecular mechanism of bacteria recognition by carbohydrate binding proteins of the innate immune system as well as the carbohydrate biosynthetic enzymes and virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria.

Carbohydrate binding proteins or lectins are ubiquitous in nature. We focus on characterization of novel intelectins, ficolins, and C-type lectins in the animal innate immune system. Several of these lectins recognize microbes and initiate the immune response. We currently aim to determine carbohydrate and microbe specificity of immune lectins in shrimp and fish species. Immune lectins in reptiles and silkworms are also on the horizon. We envision that these lectins could be used in microbe detection, microbe identification, and development of novel microbe-targeting therapeutics.

In addition to lectins, we are investigating carbohydrate biosynthetic enzymes crucial for lipopolysaccharide assembly in Leptospira interrogans and Burkholderia pseudomallei. Moreover, we are also characterizing metabolic enzymes and virulence factors that are drug targets in these bacteria. We aim to elucidate the catalytic mechanism of these enzymes as well as obtaining crystal structures in complex with inhibitors. The ultimate goal is to obtain novel drug development candidates.

The main focus of our research group is biophysics, structural biology, and chemical biology of host-microbe interactions. The techniques employ in our laboratory include X-ray crystallography, small-angle X-ray scattering, ligand binding analysis, enzyme kinetics, and structure-based inhibitor design. We also routinely produce recombinant proteins in bacteria, yeasts, insect cells, and mammalian cells.

Prospective students and researchers who are interested in the experimental aspects of carbohydrate recognition and enzyme inhibitors are encouraged to contact Dr. Kittikhun directly.