Ikerbasque Research Associate
0000-0003-3027-7417Ana Ardá obtained her BSc in Chemistry from the University of A Coruña (Spain) and continued her scientific pursuits by completing her PhD in Chemistry from the same University in 2006.
That same year, Dr. Ardá joined the Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research at Utrecht University (The Netherlands) as a postdoctoral associate to research on NMR of carbohydrates. After, Dr. Ardá continued her postdoctoral studies at the Center for Biological Research (CIB) (Spanish Research Council, CSIC) at Madrid (Spain) working with Prof. Jiménez-Barbero on glycan protein interactions.
In 2014, Dr. Ardá moved to CIC bioGUNE where in 2015 was awarded a Ramón y Cajal Fellowship (tenure track). Since 2021, Dr. Ardá is an Ikerbasque Research Associate and Associate Principal Investigator at the Chemical Biology Group, where she leads several projects related to molecular recognition of glycans by protein receptors, mostly involving Galectins and C-type lectins.
Her research is at the interphase between Chemistry and Biology, trying to disclose the molecular basis of glycan-mediated biological events particularly in immune regulation and host-pathogen interactions, by employing a multidisciplinary approach combining chemical and molecular biology tools alongside various biophysical techniques. Utilizing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) as a primary tool, she elucidates the structural basis of molecular recognition events between glycans and carbohydrate-containing molecules, such as glycoproteins and glycolipids, as well as protein receptors like lectins and antibodies. This atomic-level insight, complemented by other biophysical methods (ITC, microscopy, BLI, X-Ray, arrays) and molecular biology techniques, aids in designing well-defined molecules to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying these interactions. Additionally, she devises novel strategies and innovative tools to comprehend the influence of glycosylation on glycoconjugate properties and interactions. Through international collaborations, she seeks to establish crucial structure-function relationships in the realm of immunity and host-pathogen interactions, ultimately aiming to shape our understanding and application of these processes.
Awards & recognitions
Mizutani Glycoscience Foundation (2024). Ikerbasque Research Associate (2021). Ramon y Cajal Research Fellow (2015). Juan de la Cierva Fellow (2009). BSc Excellence Award in Chemistry, University A Coruña (2000).
Collaborations
G. Rabinovich (CONICET), Y. Blériot & S. Thibaudeau (University Poitiers), O. Francesconi & C. Nativi (University Florence), A. Molinaro (University Naples), N. Nifantiev (Russian Academy Sciences), N. Reichardt & S. Serna (CIC biomaGUNE), F. Fieschi (University Grenoble Alpes), R. Adamo (GSK, Siena), J. Codée (University of Leiden), G.-J. Boons (University Utrecht).
Links
31st Mizutani research grant (No. 240081) from the Mizutani Foundation for Glycosciences starting on April 2024 (https://www.mizutanifdn.or.jp/index.html) and Principal Investigator at CIC bioGUNE of the proposal “ENSCC: European Network on the Supramolecular Chemistry of Carbohydrates” granted as European Doctoral Network Project, starting on March 2024 (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101119492).
Latest Publications
2023
2022
The Chemical Glycobiology Lab is actively engaged in extensive multidisciplinary studies on diverse glycan-lectin systems related to health and disease. This collaborative research involves Senior (Jimenez-Barbero, Ardá, Ereño-Orbea, Unione) and Emerging Scientists (Gimeno), along with Specialists, Technicians, Postdoctoral associates, and Doctoral candidates.
Using a combination of diverse and synergic methodologies, including chemical synthesis, protein biochemistry and molecular biology, biophysics (ITC, BLI), molecular modelling, and structural biology (X-Ray crystallography and CryoEM), with special emphasis on NMR spectroscopy, the Chemical Glycobiology lab investigates the interactions of glycans related to immune responses, from cancer to bacterial and viral infections.
Indeed, glycans, prevalent on mammalian cells and in the extracellular matrix, collectively form the glycocalyx, impacting physical properties, regulating protein function, and acting as ligands for lectins. Dysregulation of glycosyltransferases results in tumor-associated carbohydrate antigens (TACAs), unique to tumor cells. While TACAs are recognized therapeutic targets, their low immunogenicity presents a challenge for T-cell-dependent immune responses crucial in cancer therapy. TACAs play a crucial role in modulating immune responses within the tumor microenvironment through interactions with lectins. Similar interactions are observed in bacterial and viral-mediated infectious events.
From the application side, the focus is on structure-based drug and vaccine design, collaborating with research groups and pharmaceutical companies worldwide, investigating lectin-glycan and antibody-glycan molecular recognition processes. Additionally, from the basic perspective, we explore the conformational properties of glycans, specially the glycosyl oxocarbenium cations, key intermediates in synthesis and cleavage, and examine the presentation and dynamic properties of glycans designed for specific geometrical shapes.
In parallel, the laboratory continuously develops cutting-edge NMR-based techniques. Special emphasis is placed on the use of stable isotopes (13C, 19F) to push the boundaries of NMR applications. These advancements are vital for understanding the pivotal roles of glycans in their interactions with receptors, influencing biological responses associated with health or disease.
Specific areas and research lines include:
- • Interactions of glycans with galectins and C-type lectins, overseen by Dr. Ana Ardá.
- • Recognition of sialic acids by Siglecs and their role as glyco-immune checkpoints, led by Dr. June Ereño-Orbea.
- • Attachment of glycans to influenza virus proteins and other pathogens, investigating their impact on infections, directed by Dr. Luca Unione.
- • Analysis of proteoglycans and the functional landscape of glycosylation in cancer, spearheaded by Dr. Ana Gimeno.
-
Scientific Director
Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
Ikerbasque Research Professor Associate Principal Investigator -
Luca Unione
ERC Starting Grant - Ikerbasque Research Associate - Juan de la Cierva Fellow Emerging Scientist -
Ana Maria Gimeno Cardells
Ramón y Cajal (RyC) Programme - Ikerbasque Research Fellow SPECIALIST -
Ana Poveda
POSTDOCTORAL RESEARCHER -
Iris Alicia Bermejo Ruíz
MSCA-PF Fellow -
Maria Jesús Moure García
-
Pablo Valverde Sánchez
-
Diego Damián Del Balzo
TECHNICIANS / DOCTORAL CANDIDATES -
Sandra Delgado
-
Cristina Fernández Pérez
-
Maria Alejandra Travecedo
MSCA-DN Fellow -
María Payá García
-
Alberto Marina
-
Mirane Florencio Zabaleta
-
Milena Bartoloni
MSCA-DN Fellow
Members
Latest Publications
Insights into the transglucosylation activity of α-glucosidase from Schwanniomyces occidentalis
Merdzo, Z; Narmontaite, E; Gonzalez-Alfonso, JL; Poveda, A; Jimenez-Barbero, J; Plou, FJ; Fernández-Lobato, M;
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
2024-12-01
Unveiling the GT114 family: Structural characterization of A075L, a glycosyltransferase from Paramecium bursaria chlorella virus-1 (PBCV-1)
Laugieri, ME; Speciale, I; Gimeno, A; Lin, SC; Byers, BW; Poveda, A; Nunez-Franco, R; Iturrioz, I; Moure, MJ; Jimenez-Oses, G; Russo-Krauss, I; Notaro, A; Van Etten, JL; Lowary, TL; Jimenez-Barbero, ...
PROTEIN SCIENCE
2024-12-01
Exploring glycan-lectin interactions in natural-like environments: A view using NMR experimentsinside cell and on cell surface.
Bertuzzi, Sara; Lete, Marta G; Franconetti, Antonio; Diercks, Tammo; Delgado, Sandra; Oyenarte, Iker; Moure, Maria J; Nunez-Sancho, Reyes; Valverde, Pablo; Lenza, Maria Pia; Sobczak, Klaudia; ...
Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
2024-11-26
Glycosylium Ions in Superacid Mimic the Transition State of Enzyme Reactions
Armand, M; Nin-Hill, A; Ardá, A; Berrino, E; Désiré, J; Martin-Mingot, A; Michelet, B; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Blériot, Y; Rovira, C; Thibaudeau, S;
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
2024-11-13
NMR investigations of glycan conformation, dynamics, and interactions
Angulo, J; Ardá, A; Bertuzzi, S; Canales, A; Ereño-Orbea, J; Gimeno, A; Gomez-Redondo, M; Muñoz-García, JC; Oquist, P; Monaco, S; Poveda, A; Unione, L; Jiménez-Barbero, J;
PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY
2024-10-18
Opposed Aromatic Surfaces Behave as Independent Binding Sites for Carbohydrate Stacking: Analysis of Sandwich-like CH/π/CH Complexes
Díaz-Casado, L; Mann, E; Jiménez-Moreno, E; Villacampa, A; Montalvillo-Jiménez, L; Sánchez-García, C; Corzana, F; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Gómez, AM; Santana, AG; Asensio, JL;
JACS AU
2024-10-14
Antigenic determinants driving serogroup-specific antibody response to Neisseria meningitidis C, W, and Y capsular polysaccharides: Insights for rational vaccine design
Pietri, GP; Bertuzzi, S; Karnicar, K; Unione, L; Lisnic, B; Malic, S; Miklic, K; Novak, M; Calloni, I; Santini, L; Usenik, A; Romano, MR; Adamo, R; Jonjic, S; Turk, D; Jimenez-Barbero, J; Rovis, ...
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
2024-10-01
The power lies in the glycans
Unione, L; Jiménez-Barbero, J;
ELIFE
2024-09-20
Unprecedented selectivity for homologous lectin targets: differential targeting of the viral receptors L-SIGN and DC-SIGN
Delaunay, C; Pollastri, S; Thépaut, M; Cavazzoli, G; Belvisi, L; Bouchikri, C; Labiod, N; Lasala, F; Gimeno, A; Franconetti, A; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Ardá, A; Delgado, R; Bernardi, A; Fieschi, ...
CHEMICAL SCIENCE
2024-08-27
Influence of Selective Deoxyfluorination on the Molecular Structure of Type-2 N-Acetyllactosamine
Kurfirt, M; Stastna, LC; Dracinsky, M; Pohl, R; Cisarová, I; Sykora, J; Balouch, M; Baka, M; Hamala, V; Cañada, FJ; Ardá, A; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Karban, J;
JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
2024-08-23
Exploring galectin interactions with human milk oligosaccharides and blood group antigens identifies BGA6 as a functional galectin-4 ligand
Cagnoni, AJ; Massaro, M; Cutine, AM; Gimeno, A; Pérez-Sáez, JM; Cocco, MNM; Maller, SM; Di Lella, S; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Ardá, A; Rabinovich, GA; Mariño, K;
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
2024-08-13
Insights into the recognition of hypermucoviscous Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates by innate immune lectins of the Siglec and galectin families
Campanero-Rhodes, MA; Martí, S; Hernández-Ortiz, N; Cubero, M; Ereño-Orbea, J; Ardá, A; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Ardanuy, C; Solís, D;
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
2024-08-01
Different roles of the heterodimer architecture of galectin-4 in selective recognition of oligosaccharides and lipopolysaccharides having ABH antigens
Quintana, JI; Massaro, M; Cagnoni, AJ; Nuñez-Franco, R; Delgado, S; Jiménez-Osés, G; Mariño, KV; Rabinovich, GA; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Ardá, A;
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
2024-08-01
Nanotechnology-assisted intracellular delivery of antibody as a precision therapy approach for KRAS-driven tumors
López-Estévez, AM; Sanjurjo, L; Turrero, A; Arriaga, I; Abrescia, NGA; Poveda, A; Jimenez-Barbero, J; Vidal, A; Torres, D; Alonso, MJ;
JOURNAL OF CONTROLLED RELEASE
2024-07-15
Quantifying Siglec-sialylated ligand interactions: a versatile 19F-T2 CPMG filtered competitive NMR displacement assay
Atxabal, U; Fernández, A; Moure, MJ; Sobczak, K; Nycholat, C; Almeida-Marrero, V; Oyenarte, I; Paulson, JC; de la Escosura, A; Torres, T; Reichardt, NC; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Ereño-Orbea, J;
CHEMICAL SCIENCE
2024-06-07
Solid-Phase-Supported Chemoenzymatic Synthesis and Analysis of Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan Glycopeptides
Lin, PH; Xu, YM; Bali, SK; Kim, J; Gimeno, A; Roberts, ET; James, D; Almeida, NMS; Loganathan, N; Fan, F; Wilson, AK; Amster, IJ; Moremen, KW; Liu, J; Jimenez-Barbero, J; Huang, XF;
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
2024-05-23
Disentangling Glycan-Protein Interactions: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) to the Rescue
Bertuzzi, S; Poveda, A; Ardá, A; Gimeno, A; Jiménez-Barbero, J;
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
2024-05-17
A Multidisciplinary Structural Approach to the Identification of the Haemophilus influenzae Type b Capsular Polysaccharide Protective Epitope
Nonne, F; Dello Iacono, L; Bertuzzi, S; Unione, L; Proietti, D; Norais, N; Margarit, I; Adamo, R; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Carboni, F; Romano, MR;
ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE
2024-02-22
Dissecting the Conformational Stability of a Glycan Hairpin
Yadav, N; Djalali, S; Poveda, A; Ricardo, MG; Seeberger, PH; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Delbianco, M;
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
2024-02-20
Unraveling Molecular Recognition of Glycan Ligands by Siglec-9 via NMR Spectroscopy and Molecular Dynamics Modeling
Atxabal, U; Nycholat, C; Pröpster, JM; Fernández, A; Oyenarte, I; Lenza, MP; Franconetti, A; Soares, CO; Coelho, H; Marcelo, F; Schubert, M; Paulson, JC; Jiménez-Barbero, J; Ereño-Orbea, J;
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
2024-02-16