Washington DC, May 19 -- Scientists have uncovered a hidden "sugar code" on the surface of human cells that could transform how diseases are detected. Using an advanced imaging technique called Glycan Atlasing, researchers at the Max Planck Institute mapped the tiny sugar structures coating cells and discovered that these patterns shift depending on what the cell is doing.

Immune cells changed their sugar layouts when activated, and cancerous tissues displayed distinct surface signatures compared to healthy tissue.

Every human cell is covered by a thin layer of sugars called the glycocalyx. This outer coating helps cells interact with their surroundings and may also provide important clues about what is happening inside the cell itself....