Glycosylation is a post-translational modification of proteins in which carbohydrate chains, known asglycans, are linked to lipids or proteins. Many biological proteins are glycosylated, and these glycans are
important in the necessary biological functionality of proteins. In this dissertation, the structure/function
relationship of highly glycosylated proteins are explored using molecular dynamics simulations and
experiment in concert, specifically: 1) the structural & mechanistic explanation of preventing COVID-19
infection with a novel inhaled antiviral compound, 2) the dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein
interacting with its cofactors on the host-cell and exploitation of said interaction to develop a rapid antigen
test, 3) the mechanism of airborne transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virion in a respiratory aerosol, and 4) the
relationship between glycosylation and functional dynamics of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain
containing proteins.