Globotriose (CAS 66580-68-5)

Globotriose, formally known as Gal(α1-4)Gal(β1-4)Glc, is a trisaccharide consisting of two galactose molecules and one glucose molecule. It plays a critical role in the study of microbial pathogenesis, particularly in research related to bacterial infections that target the human kidney and urinary tract. Globotriose is the specific receptor for the binding of Shiga-like toxin produced by pathogenic strains of E. coli, which is a primary causative agent of hemolytic uremic syndrome, a severe condition following E. coli infections. In scientific research, globotriose is extensively used to understand the biochemical basis of host-pathogen interactions. Studies involving this trisaccharide help explain how bacteria recognize and adhere to host cells via carbohydrate-specific interactions, which is crucial for developing strategies to inhibit bacterial adhesion and colonization. The structural analysis of globotriose and its binding affinities with bacterial adhesins and toxins provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of infection. Additionally, globotriose is used in the development of synthetic vaccines where mimicking the structure of key bacterial binding sites can induce an immune response without the presence of the pathogen. This approach has implications for the design of broad-spectrum vaccines against a variety of pathogenic bacteria that utilize similar mechanisms for host interaction.