Dr. Alisdair Boraston

Biography

Alisdair Boraston is a Professor and Undergraduate Advisor at the University of Victoria. His research focuses on protein-carbohydrate recognition, a biological phenomenon of fundamental importance in numerous cellular events, including glycoprotein trafficking, host-pathogen interactions, cell-cell adhesion, and cell-wall remodeling. Boraston’s work aims to understand proteins that recognize carbohydrates, which is crucial for designing programs intended to manipulate these processes for societal benefits. His research centers on carbohydrate-protein interactions, including the fundamental mechanisms of carbohydrate recognition and their roles in host-pathogen interactions such as bacterial adhesion and toxin delivery. He investigates the interaction of enzymes with biotechnologically relevant carbohydrates such as cellulose and starch, both of which play significant roles in various industries, including textiles and food. The insights gained from his studies have the potential to inform the design and screening of carbohydrate therapeutics and to enhance the understanding of carbohydrate recognition in microbial pathogenesis, which is critical for developing treatments for diseases caused by microbes like Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Salmonella enterica.

Research Interests