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Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae) infections are the leading cause of child mortality globally. Current vaccines fail to induce a protective immune response towards a conserved part of the pathogen, resulting in new serotypes causing disease. Therefore, new vaccine strategies are urgently needed. Described is a two-pronged approach combining S. pneumoniae proteins, pneumolysin (Ply) and pneumococcal surface protein A (PspA), with a precisely defined synthetic oligosaccharide, whereby the carrier protein acts as a serotype-independent antigen to provide additional protection. Proof of concept in mice and swine models revealed that the conjugates inhibited colonization of the nasopharynx, decreased the bacterial load and reduced disease severity in the bacteria challenge model. Immunization of piglets provided the first evidence for the immunogenicity and protective potential of synthetic glycoconjugate vaccine in a large animal model. A combination of synthetic oligosaccharides with proteins from the target pathogen opens the path to create broadly cross-protective (“universal”) pneumococcal vaccines.

Streptococcus pneumoniaeinfections are the leading cause of child mortality globally. Current vaccines fail to induce a protective immune response towards a conserved part of the pathogen, resulting in new serotypes causing disease. Therefore, new vaccine strategies are urgently needed. Described is a two-pronged approach combiningS.pneumoniaeproteins, pneumolysin and PspA, with a precisely defined synthetic oligosaccharide, whereby the carrier protein acts as a serotype-independent antigen to provide additional protection. Proof of concept in mice and swine models revealed that the conjugates inhibit colonization of the nasopharynx, decrease the bacterial load and reduce disease severity in the bacteria challenged model. Immunization of piglets provided the first evidence for the immunogenicity and protective potential of synthetic glycoconjugate vaccine in a large animal model. A combination of synthetic oligosaccharides with proteins from the target pathogen opens the path to create broadly cross-protective (“universal“) pneumococcal vaccines.

Invasive pneumococcal diseases (IPDs) remain the leading cause of vaccine-preventable childhood death, even though highly effective pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) are used in national immunization programs in many developing countries. Licensed PCVs currently cover only 13 of the over 90 serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae (Sp), so nonvaccine serotypes are a major obstacle to the effective control of IPD. Sp serotype 2 (ST2) is such a nonvaccine serotype that is the main cause of IPD in many countries, including Nepal, Bangladesh, and Guatemala. Glycoconjugate vaccines based on synthetic oligosaccharides instead of isolated polysaccharides offer an attractive alternative to the traditional process for PCV development. To prevent the IPDs caused by ST2, we identified an effective ST2 neoglycoconjugate vaccine candidate that was identified using a medicinal chemistry approach. Glycan microarrays containing a series of synthetic glycans resembling portions of the ST2 capsular polysaccharide (CPS) repeating unit were used to screen human and rabbit sera and identify epitope hits. Synthetic hexasaccharide 2, resembling one repeating unit (RU) of ST2 CPS, emerged as a hit from the glycan array screens. Vaccination with neoglycoconjugates consisting of hexasaccharide 2 coupled to carrier protein CRM197 stimulates a T-cell-dependent B-cell response that induced CPS-specific opsonic antibodies in mice, resulting in killing of encapsulated bacteria by phagocytic activity. Subcutaneous immunization with neoglycoconjugate protected mice from transnasal challenge with the highly virulent ST2 strain NCTC 7466 by reducing the bacterial load in lung tissue and blood.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) play key roles in humoral immunity. Recently, the LPS structure of the Psychrobacter cryohalolentis K5T strain was reported. Due to the presence of unnatural amino sugars and branched linkages, its structure is unique. Herein we report the total synthesis of an LPS analogue of P. cryohalolentis K5T. After overcoming the issues like ring conformation changes and elimination of triflate, we were able to develop a strategy for the synthesis of the newly reported 2,3,4-triacetamido-2,3,4-trideoxy-l-arabinose derivative. Coupling of different donors with suitable acceptors from the nonreducing end to the reducing end and further functional group modifications delivered the protected LPS hexasaccharide repeating unit. After functional group modifications, we were unable to oxidize the hindered primary hydroxyl group to synthesize the target molecule. Alternatively, removal of the permanent protecting groups afforded the LPS hexasaccharide repeating unit analogue of Psychrobacter cryoh...

Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a deadly disease in small children and the elderly even though conjugate and polysaccharide vaccines based on isolated capsular polysaccharides (CPS) are successful. The most common serotypes that cause infection are used in vaccines around the world, but differences in geographic and demographic serotype distribution compromises protection by leading vaccines. The medicinal chemistry approach to glycoconjugate vaccine development has helped to improve the stability and immunogenicity of synthetic vaccine candidates for several serotypes leading to the induction of higher levels of specific protective antibodies. Here, we show that marketed CPS-based glycoconjugate vaccines can be improved by adding synthetic glycoconjugates representing serotypes that are not covered by existing vaccines. Combination (coformulation) of synthetic glycoconjugates with the licensed vaccines Prevnar13 (13-valent) and Synflorix (10-valent) yields improved 15- and 13-valent conjugate vaccines, respectively, in rabbits. A pentavalent semisynthetic glycoconjugate vaccine containing five serotype antigens (sPCV5) elicits antibodies with strong in vitro opsonophagocytic activity. This study illustrates that synthetic oligosaccharides can be used in coformulation with both isolated polysaccharide glycoconjugates to expand protection from existing vaccines and each other to produce precisely defined multivalent conjugated vaccines.

Bacterial glycans contain rare, exclusively bacterial monosaccharides that are frequently linked to pathogenesis and essentially absent from human cells. Therefore, bacterial glycans are intriguing molecular targets. However, systematic discovery of bacterial glycoproteins is hampered by the presence of rare deoxy amino sugars, which are refractory to traditional glycan-binding reagents. Thus, the development of chemical tools that label bacterial glycans is a crucial step toward discovering and targeting these biomolecules. Here, we explore the extent to which metabolic glycan labeling facilitates the studying and targeting of glycoproteins in a range of pathogenic and symbiotic bacterial strains. We began with an azide-containing analog of the naturally abundant monosaccharide N-acetylglucosamine and discovered that it is not broadly incorporated into bacterial glycans, thus revealing a need for additional azidosugar substrates to broaden the utility of metabolic glycan labeling in bacteria. Therefore, we designed and synthesized analogs of the rare deoxy amino 7-sugars N-acetylfucosamine, bacillosamine, and 2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxygalactose and established that these analogs are differentially incorporated into glycan-containing structures in a range of pathogenic and symbiotic bacterial species. Further application of these analogs will refine our knowledge of the glycan repertoire in diverse bacteria and may find utility in treating a variety of infectious diseases with selectivity.

The first total synthesis of the alpha-L-serine linked consensus disaccharide of Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria meningitidis was carried out in six linear steps, with 20.6% overall yield.

Covering: 1964 to 2013 Bacteria have unusual glycans on their surfaces which distinguish them from the host cells. These unique structures offer avenues for targeting bacteria with specific therapeutics and vaccine. However, these rare sugars are not accessible in acceptable purity and amounts by isolation from natural sources. Thus, procurement of orthogonally protected rare sugar building blocks through efficient chemical synthesis is regarded as a crucial step towards the development of glycoconjugate vaccines. This Highlight focuses on recent advances in the synthesis of the bacterial deoxy amino hexopyranoside building blocks and their application in constructing various biologically important bacterial O-glycans.

Covering: 1964 to 2013 Bacteria have unusual glycans on their surfaces which distinguish them from the host cells. These unique structures offer avenues for targeting bacteria with specific therapeutics and vaccine. However, these rare sugars are not accessible in acceptable purity and amounts by isolation from natural sources. Thus, procurement of orthogonally protected rare sugar building blocks through efficient chemical synthesis is regarded as a crucial step towards the development of glycoconjugate vaccines. This Highlight focuses on recent advances in the synthesis of the bacterial deoxy amino hexopyranoside building blocks and their application in constructing various biologically important bacterial O-glycans.

The MECA-79 antigen is a sulfated mucin type core-1 extended O-glycan which is a potential anti-inflammatory agent. Herein we report a total synthesis of MECA-79 via a convergent [2 + 2] glycosylation route. The synthesis relies on efficient transformation of D-glucosamine into the orthogonally protected Tn antigen derivative and its elaboration into the TF antigen en route to MECA-79.

Total synthesis of the bacillosamine containing L-serine linked O-trisaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis is described. The synthesis entails installation of two consecutive alpha-linkages including the coupling of bacillosamine with L-serine derivative. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bacterial glycoconjugates comprise atypical deoxy amino sugars that are not present on the human cell surface, making them good targets for drug discovery and carbohydrate-based vaccine development. Unfortunately, they cannot be isolated with sufficient purity in acceptable amounts, and therefore chemical synthesis is a crucial step toward the development of these products. Here we describe a detailed protocol for the synthesis of orthogonally protected bacterial deoxy amino hexopyranoside (2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxyhexose (DATATDH), d-bacillosamine, d-fucosamine, and 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxy-dgalactose (AATAATAAT)), d-glucosamine and d-galactosamine building blocks starting from beta-d-thiophenylmannoside. Readily available beta-d-thiophenylmannoside was first converted into the corresponding 2,4-diols via deoxygenation or silylation at C6, followed by O3 acylation. The 2,4-diols were converted into 2,4-bis-trifluoromethanesulfonates, which underwent highly regioselective, one-pot, double-serial and double-parallel displacements by azide, phthalimide, acetate and nitrite ions as nucleophiles. Thus, d-rhamnosyl-and d-mannosyl 2,4-diols can be efficiently transformed into various rare sugars and d-galactosamine, respectively, as orthogonally protected thioglycoside building blocks on a gram scale in 1-2 d, in 54-85% overall yields, after a single chromatographic purification. This would otherwise take 1-2 weeks. d-Glucosamine building blocks can be prepared from beta-d-thiophenylmannoside in four steps via C2 displacement of triflates by azide in 2 d and in 66-70% overall yields. These procedures have been applied to the synthesis of l-serine-linked trisaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis and a rare disaccharide fragment of the zwitterionic polysaccharide (ZPSPS) A1 (ZPSPS A1) of Bacteroides fragilis.

A first synthesis of the trisaccharide moiety of the phyteumosides and its cholesteryl analog is described using easily accessible and regioselectively protected D-glucose, L-rhamnose and D-galactose building blocks via a linear glycosylation approach. The two glycosyl donors were prepared as thiophenyl (SPh) glycosides. Trichloroacetimidate (TCAl) coupling was employed for the first glycosylation step while thioglycoside activation was used for the second glycosylation to assemble the O-allyl trisaccharide. After removal of the anomeric allyl group, the trisaccharide was converted into a TCAl donor. Using cholesterol as an acceptor in combination with acetonitrile as a participating solvent to achieve beta-selectivity in glycosylation, a phyteumoside analog was obtained.

An efficient route for the synthesis of orthogonally protected D-galactosamine thioglycosides via one-pot double serial and double parallel displacements of the D-mannosyl-2,4-bis-trifluoromethanesulfonates by azide and nitrite ions is described. These building blocks were utilized to synthesize the rare disaccharide moiety of the zwitterionic polysaccharide of Bacteroides fragilis and the selectively protected Tn antigen

Bacteria have unusual glycans which are not accessible by isolation. Herein, we describe a general and divergent strategy for the synthesis of the rare, bacterial deoxy amino hexopyranoside building blocks from d-mannose. The methodology is applied to the first total synthesis of the l-serine linked trisaccharide of Neisseria meningitidis.