Aquila Bioscience (ABL)

Aquila Bioscience (ABL) is a spin-out company from National University of Ireland Galway. ABL is focused on high-throughput methods for screening large sample sets and for analysing interactions mediated by cell surface components. ABL has developed microarray platforms and cell-based biological assays specifically aimed at the detection of polysaccharides and glycoconjugates, their receptor molecules and the characterization of these molecules’ biological functions. ABL’s approach to microarray-based glycoprofiling technology includes the use of immobilized lectins, engineered carbohydrate binding molecules (CBMs) as well as natural and synthetic glycans (polysaccharides and glycoconjugates) to detect the presence of corresponding binding partners in particular polysaccharides from microbiological, human and other animal samples. In tandem with platform development, ABL is developing a range of CBMs aimed at ultimately replacing naturally occurring lectins. Novel CBMs will be more suitable for surface conjugation for biosensor-based detection/characterization purposes through careful design and selection which takes into account the shortfalls of natural CBMs. ABL is also developing cell-based assay systems designed to greatly aid in the understanding of biological functions of glycans and CBMs.

Partner in Work Packages 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 & 9