Sialic acid

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Image:Sialic acid.png Sialic acid is a derivative of a nine-carbon monosaccharide, named from the Greek σιαλοσ (sialos) 'saliva'. It is the negative charge of this chemical that is responsible for the slippery feel of saliva and mucins coating the body’s organs. Despite its role of acting as "decoy" for invading pathogens, sialic acid is becoming known as an agent necessary for mediating ganglioside distribution and structures in the brain. Along with involvement in preventing infections (mucous associated with mucous membranes - mouth, nose, GI, respiratory tract), sialic acid acts as a receptor for influenza viruses to allow attachment to mucous cells (an early step in contracting the flu).