Gal2 represents a new potential therapeutic where restoration of T cell homeostasis is desirable. This includes allergic reaction, graft-versus-host-disease and inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s Disease and ulcerative colitis. Also, independent studies in mice have shown administration of Gal-2 can ameliorate experimental colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease. However, the therapeutic potential of native Gal2 is limited. It aggregates when produced recombinantly, is highly unstable when stored and has a short half-life in serum.

Professor Anton Middelberg and his research team at the Centre for Biomolecular Engineering in the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have developed an effective version of Gal2 which can overcome these limitations.

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