TED: What the sugar coating on your cells is trying to tell you | Carolyn Bertozzi

The video explores the role of sugars on cell surfaces, initially thought to be protective, but now understood as complex structures with significant biological information. Sugars determine blood types and play a crucial role in medical procedures like blood transfusions. They also change in cancer cells, affecting diagnosis and treatment. The immune system's interaction with cancer cells is influenced by sugars like sialic acid, which can help cancer cells evade detection. New therapies aim to strip these sugars to enhance immune response against cancer.

How do immune cells interact with cancer cells according to the author?

What potential treatments are being developed to enhance the immune response to cancer?

What is the importance of understanding the sugars on cells in relation to autoimmune diseases?

How does the author suggest we can wake up immune cells to fight cancer?