Joshua Jortner Distinguished Lectures In Chemistry: "Fundamental Insights into Glycosylation Reactions as Basis for Automated Glycan Assembly, Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics"
Guest Lecturer: Prof. Dr. Peter H. Seeberger, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, and the Founding Director of the Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC), Germany
HOW CAN FUNDAMENTAL CHEMISTRY LEAD TO NEW VACCINES, THERAPEUTICS AND DIAGNOSTICS?
The Institute of Advanced Studies is honored to welcome Prof. Dr. Peter H. Seeberger as part of the Joshua Jortner Distinguished Lectures in Chemistry. In his lecture, "Fundamental Insights into Glycosylation Reactions as Basis for Automated Glycan Assembly, Vaccines, Therapeutics and Diagnostics," Professor Seeberger will explore how fundamental discoveries in glycosylation have led to automated glycan assembly, a technology that enables the preparation of increasingly complex carbohydrates. He will discuss how these advances have opened new avenues in molecular glycobiology, including the development of vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutic approaches.
COURSE DETAILS
When: Sunday, 1 November 2026, 16:00
Where: Melamed Hall, Shenkar Physics Building
Light refreshments will be served before the lecture.
The lecture will be conducted in English.
MORE ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Prof. Dr. Peter H. Seeberger is Director at the Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces in Potsdam, Professor at Freie Universität Berlin, and Honorary Professor at the University of Potsdam. He is the Founding Director of the Center for the Transformation of Chemistry (CTC). A renowned expert in glycosciences and continuous chemistry, Professor Seeberger uses synthetic carbohydrates to investigate the role of glycans in biologically and medically relevant processes and their applications in novel materials. His work in continuous chemistry focuses on the rapid and reliable preparation of complex molecules, including drug substances. His research has resulted in several spin-off companies in the USA, Switzerland, Denmark, and Germany. He has also served as Vice President of the German Research Foundation (DFG) since 2021.
FULL ABSTRACT
FUNDAMENTAL INSIGHTS INTO GLYCOSYLATION REACTIONS AS BASIS FOR AUTOMATED GLYCAN ASSEMBLY, VACCINES, THERAPEUTICS AND DIAGNOSTICS
Following fundamental discoveries concerning all aspects of glycosylation reactions,1 automated glycan assembly (AGA)2 has developed into a reliable technology3 that allows for preparation of diverse oligo- and polysaccharides4 on a solid support employing a synthesizer.5 Access to ever more complex glycans enables investigations into the structure and function of polysaccharide materials, vaccines and diagnostics. AGA gave rise to molecular glycobiology. Placing synthetic glycans on surfaces gave rise to glycan microarrays6 that were used for diagnostic purposes and to discover the cause of autoimmune diseases. 7
Vaccine programs aimed at protection from most bacteria and fungi found on the WHO list of the most critical microbial threats are underway. A vaccine candidate against C. difficile successfully completed Phase 1 human clinical trials.8 Vaccine candidates against a host of other pathogens are currently in preclinical evaluation. Synthetic oligosaccharides have given rise to monoclonal antibodies to kill cancer cells. 9 An antibody-drug conjugate is being prepared for human clinical trials.
References
1. Plante, O.J.; Andrade, R.B.; Seeberger, P.H. Organic Letters 1999, 1, 211-214.
2. Plante, O.J.; Palmacci, E.R.; Seeberger, P.H.; Science 2001, 291, 1523.
3. Guberman, M.; Seeberger, P.H.; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2019, 141, 5581.
4. Joseph, A.; Pardo-Vargas, A.; Seeberger, P.H.; J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2020, 142, 8561.
5. Hahm, H.S.; Schlegel, M.K.; Hurevich, M.; Eller, S.; Schuhmacher, F.; Hofmann, J.; Pagel, K.; Seeberger, P.H.; Proc Nat Acad Sci USA, 2017, 114, E3385.
6. Geissner, A.; Seeberger, P.H. Ann Rev Anal Chem 2016, 9, 223.
7. Pröbstel, A.-K.; …..Seeberger, P.H.; Gommerman, J.L.; Schirmer, L.; Wilson, M.R.; Baranzini, S.E.; Science Immunology 2020, 5, eabc7191.
8. Martin, C.E.; Broecker, F.; Oberli, M.A.; …..Seeberger, P.H.; J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2013, 135, 9713; Broecker, F.; Hanske, J.;…. Seeberger, P.H.; Nature Comm. 2016, 7, 11224; Broecker, F.; Martin, C.E.; Anish, C.; Seeberger, P.H.; Cell Chem. Bio. 2016, 23, 1014.
9. Goerdeler, F.; Reuber, E.; Lühle, J.; Leichnitz, S.; Freitag, A.; Nedielkov, R.; Möller, H.; Seeberger, P.H.; Moscovitz, O.; ACS Cent. Sci. 2023, 9, 1111.
Joshua Jortner Distinguished Lectures in Chemistry - Coordinator: Prof. Gil Markovich
