Glycans play a crucial role to discern between self and foreign entities by providing key recognition elements for C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) and Siglec receptors expressed on immune cells. The glycan recognition of CLRs has illustrated a potent immune modulatory role affecting not only innate pathogen binding and immune signalling, but also Thelper differentiation, cytokine production and antigen presentation. This broad range of influence has implicated glycans in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases but also revealed their extraordinary properties in cancer. Glycan binding by CLRs and Siglecs can be exploited for immunotherapy and the design of glycan-based therapeutics and their multivalent requirements will aspire new biotechnological approaches to effectively interfere in immunological processes in cancer and infectious diseases.

聚糖通过为免疫细胞上表达的C型凝集素受体（CLR）和Siglec受体提供关键的识别元件，在辨别自身和异物方面起着至关重要的作用。对CLR的聚糖识别表明，强效的免疫调节作用不仅影响先天病原体的结合和免疫信号传导，而且还影响Thelper的分化，细胞因子的产生和抗原呈递。这种广泛的影响力使聚糖与传染病的发病机制有关，但也揭示了其在癌症中的非凡特性。可以利用CLR和Siglecs结合的聚糖来进行免疫治疗，基于聚糖的治疗剂及其多价要求的设计将催生新的生物技术方法，以有效地干预癌症和传染病的免疫过程。