Research interests are centred on protein-carbohydrate interactions with particular emphasis on the relatively small carbohydrate recognition element (epitope) that contacts the protein binding site. Antibodies against microbial carbohydrate antigens afford protection against infection and protein oligosaccharide conjugate vaccines are one of the most successful public health measures against serious diseases. Other important protein carbohydrate interactions involve adherence of bacteria or their toxins to the mammalian cell surface oligosaccharides of glycolipids, and N-linked and O-linked glycoproteins.
