Glycosylation of proteins is arguably the most prevalent co-and post-translational modification. It is responsible for increased heterogeneity and functional diversity of proteins. Here we discuss the importance of one type of glycosylation, specifically O-mannosylation and its relationship with a number of human diseases. The most widely studied O-mannose modified protein is alpha-dystroglycan (α-DG). Recent studies have focused intensely on α-DG due to the severity of diseases associated with its improper glycosylation. O-mannosylation of α-DG is involved in cancer metastasis, arenavirus entry, and multiple forms of congenital muscular dystrophy (1, 2). In this review, we discuss structural and functional characteristics of O-mannose initiated glycan structures on α-DG, enzymes involved in the O-mannosylation pathway, and the diseases that are a direct result of disruptions within this pathway.