Search

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory disease affecting primarily the joints, is frequently characterized by the presence of autoimmune anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) during preclinical stages of disease and accumulation of hypercitrullinated proteins in arthritic joints. A strong association has been reported between RA and periodontal disease, and Porphyromonas gingivalis , a known driver of periodontitis, has been proposed as the microbial link underlying this association. We recently demonstrated P. gingivalis -mediated gut barrier breakdown and exacerbation of joint inflammation during inflammatory arthritis. In the present study, we investigated another potential role for P. gingivalis in RA etiopathogenesis, based on the generation of ACPA through the activity of a unique P. gingivalis peptidylarginine deiminase (PPAD) produced by this bacterium, which is capable of protein citrullination. Using a novel P. gingivalis W50 PPAD mutant strain, incapable of protein citrullination, and serum from disease-modifying antirheumatic drug-naïve early arthritis patients, we assessed whether autocitrullinated proteins in the P. gingivalis proteome serve as cross-activation targets in the initiation of ACPA production. We found no evidence for patient antibody activity specific to autocitrullinated P. gingivalis proteins. Moreover, deletion of PPAD did not prevent P. gingivalis -mediated intestinal barrier breakdown and exacerbation of disease during inflammatory arthritis in a murine model. Together, these findings suggest that the enzymatic activity of PPAD is not a major virulence mechanism during early stages of inflammatory arthritis.

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a Gram-negative black pigmenting anaerobe that is unable to synthesize heme [Fe(II)-protoporphyrin IX] or hemin [Fe(III)-protoporphyrin IX-Cl], which are important growth/virulence factors, and must therefore derive them from the host. Porphyromonas gingivalis expresses several proteinaceous hemin-binding sites, which are important in the binding/transport of heme/hemin from the host. It also synthesizes several virulence factors, namely cysteine-proteases Arg- and Lys-gingipains and two lipopolysaccharides (LPS), O-LPS and A-LPS. The gingipains are required for the production of the black pigment, μ-oxo-bisheme {[Fe(III)PPIX] 2 O}, which is derived from hemoglobin and deposited on the bacterial cell-surface leading to the characteristic black colonies when grown on blood agar. In this study we investigated the role of LPS in the deposition of μ-oxo-bisheme on the cell-surface. A P. gingivalis mutant defective in the biosynthesis of Arg-gingipains, namely rgpA/rgpB, produces brown colonies on blood agar and mutants defective in Lys-gingipain (kgp) and LPS biosynthesis namely porR, waaL, wzy, and pg0129 (α-1, 3-mannosyltransferase) produce non-pigmented colonies. However, only those mutants lacking A-LPS showed reduced hemin-binding when cells in suspension were incubated with hemin. Using native, de-O-phosphorylated and de-lipidated LPS from P. gingivalis W50 and porR strains, we demonstrated that hemin-binding to O-polysaccharide (PS) and to the lipid A moiety of LPS was reduced compared with hemin-binding to A-PS. We conclude that A-LPS in the outer-membrane of P. gingivalis serves as a scaffold/anchor for the retention of μ-oxo-bisheme on the cell surface and pigmentation is dependent on the presence of A-LPS., (© 2017 The Authors. Molecular Oral Microbiology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Unlabelled: Intestinal homeostasis mechanisms must protect the host intestinal tissue from endogenous lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) produced by the intestinal microbiota. In this report, we demonstrate that murine intestinal fecal lipids effectively block Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) responses to naturally occurring Bacteroidetes sp. LPS. Cardiolipin (CL) represents a significant proportion of the total intestinal and fecal lipids and, furthermore, potently antagonizes TLR4 activation by reducing LPS binding at the lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP), CD14, and MD-2 steps of the TLR4 signaling pathway. It is further demonstrated that intestinal lipids and CL are less effective at neutralizing more potent Enterobacteriaceae-type LPS, which is enriched in feces obtained from mice with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-treated inflammatory bowel disease. The selective inhibition of naturally occurring LPS structures by intestinal lipids may represent a novel homeostasis mechanism that blocks LPS activation in response to symbiotic but not dysbiotic microbial communities., Importance: The guts of animals harbor a variety of Gram-negative bacteria associated with both states of intestinal health and states of disease. Environmental factors, such as dietary habits, can drive the microbial composition of the host animal's intestinal bacterial community toward a more pathogenic state. Both beneficial and harmful Gram-negative bacteria are capable of eliciting potentially damaging inflammatory responses from the host intestinal tissues via a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-dependent pathway. Physical mucosal barriers and antibodies produced by the intestinal immune system protect against the undesired inflammatory effects of LPS, although it is unknown why some bacteria are more effective at overcoming the protective barriers than others. This report describes the discovery of a lipid-type protective barrier in the intestine that reduces the deleterious effects of LPSs from beneficial bacteria but is less effective in dampening the inflammatory effects of LPSs from harmful bacteria, providing a novel mechanistic insight into inflammatory intestinal disorders., (Copyright © 2016, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)

Porphyromonas gingivalis synthesizes two lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), O-LPS and A-LPS. Here, we elucidate the structure of the core oligosaccharide (OS) of O-LPS from two mutants of P. gingivalis W50, Delta PG1051 (WaaL, O-antigen ligase) and Delta PG1142 (O-antigen polymerase), which synthesize R-type LPS (core devoid of O antigen) and SR-type LPS (core plus one repeating unit of O antigen), respectively. Structural analyses were performed using one-dimensional and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in combination with composition and methylation analysis. The outer core OS of O-LPS occurs in two glycoforms: an "uncapped core," which is devoid of O polysaccharide (O-PS), and a "capped core," which contains the site of O-PS attachment. The inner core region lacks L(D)-glycero-D(l)-manno-heptosyl residues and is linked to the outer core via 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid, which is attached to a glycerol residue in the outer core via a monophosphodiester bridge. The outer region of the "uncapped core" is attached to the glycerol and is composed of a linear alpha-(1-->3)-linked d-Man OS containing four or five mannopyranosyl residues, one-half of which are modified by phosphoethanolamine at position 6. An amino sugar, alpha-D-allosamine, is attached to the glycerol at position 3. In the "capped core," there is a three- to five-residue extension of alpha-(1-->3)-linked Man residues glycosylating the outer core at the nonreducing terminal residue. beta-D-GalNAc from the O-PS repeating unit is attached to the nonreducing terminal Man at position 3. The core OS of P. gingivalis O-LPS is therefore a highly unusual structure, and it is the basis for further investigation of the mechanism of assembly of the outer membrane of this important periodontal bacterium.

The serotyping of O and H antigens is an important first step in the characterization of Salmonella enterica. However, serotyping has become increasingly technically demanding and expensive to perform. We have therefore sequenced additional S. enterica O antigen gene clusters to provide information for the development of DNA-based serotyping methods. Three S. enterica isolates had O antigen gene clusters with homology to the Escherichia coli O123 O antigen region. O antigen clusters from two serogroup O58 S. enterica strains had approximately 85 % identity with the E. coli O123 O antigen region over their entire length, suggesting that these Salmonella and E. coli O antigen regions evolved from a common ancestor. The O antigen cluster of a Salmonella serogroup O41 isolate had a lower level of identity with E. coli O123 over only part of its O antigen DNA cluster sequence, suggesting a different and more complex evolution of this gene cluster than those in the O58 strains. A large part of the Salmonella O41 O antigen DNA cluster had very close identity with the O antigen cluster of an O62 strain. This region of DNA homology included the wzx and wzy genes. Therefore, molecular serotyping tests using only the O41 or O62 wzx and wzy genes would not differentiate between the two serogroups. The E. coli O123 O-antigenic polysaccharide and its repeating unit were characterized, and the chemical structure for E. coli O123 was entirely consistent with the O antigen gene cluster sequences of E. coli O123 and the Salmonella O58 isolates. An understanding of both the genetic and structural composition of Salmonella and E. coli O antigens is necessary for the development of novel molecular methods for serotyping these organisms.

AL amyloidosis is a fatal disease caused by deposition of immunoglobulin light chains in a fibrillarforin (AL) in various organs. By searching the Kabat database of immunoglobulin sequences using the KabatMan software, we have shown that there is a preponderance of the consensus glycosylation sequon (AsnXxxSer/Thr) in the framework regions of amyloid light chains. We have characterised by computer graphics simulations, NMR spectroscopy and carbohydrate biochemistry the structure and conformation of the oligosaccharide from amyloid protein AL MS (lamba1) and from the amyloid associated Bence Jones protein of patient MH (kappa1). These proteins have glycosylation in the hypervariable complementarity-determining region versus framework region, respectively. Both contained a 2-6 sialylated core fucosylated biantennary chain mostly with bisecting GIcNAc. Together our results suggest that light chain glycosylation may be one of several modifications which may render the protein more prone to amyloid formation.

The structure of a linear, acidic exopolysaccharide isolated from the Archaeon Haloferax denitrificans ATCC 35960 has been determined using NMR spectroscopy. The sugar residues in the repeating unit of the polysaccharide were identified as Gal and GlcA2,3NAc after the assignment of the 1H and 13C resonances using COSY, HOHAHA, HMQC and HMQC-TOCSY experiments. The sequence of the residues in the polysaccharide was established from the inter-residue connectivities observed in the HMQC-NOESY plot. The only sugar released on acid hydrolysis was shown to be D-Gal by GLC analysis, while the absolute configuration of the acidic sugars was shown to be D by comparison of the carbon chemical shifts with those of model compounds. Partial acid hydrolysis yielded a tetrasaccharide, terminated by D-Gal at the reducing end, whose structure confirmed that of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide as-->4)-beta-D-GlcpA2,3NAc-(1-->4)-beta-D-GlcpA2, 3NAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GlcpA2,3NAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Galp- (1-->, where D-GlcpA2,3NAc is 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-D-glucopyranosiduronic acid.

The following structure of the O-specific polysaccharide (OPS) of Proteus vulgaris O45 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was established using 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional NOESY and H-detected 1H, 13C heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence ( HMQC) experiments: [structure: see text text] Immunochemical studies, using rabbit polyclonal anti-P. vulgaris O45 serum and LPS, OPS and Smith-degraded OPS of P. vulgaris O45, showed the importance of beta-D-GlcA in manifesting the serological specificity of the O-antigen studied.

The O polysaccharide (OPS) of the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas syringae pv. coriandricola GSPB 2028 (NCPPB 3780, W-43) was studied by Smith degradation and 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, and H-detected 1H,13C heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC) experiments. The OPS was shown to consist of pentasaccharide O repeats of two types both containing four L-rhamnose and one 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxy-D-galactose (D-Fuc3NAc) residue. Structure 1 of the major O repeat which had been established earlier [Das, S., Ramm, M., Kochanowski, H. & Basu, S. (1994) J. Bacteriol. 176, 6550-6557], was confirmed by our data, and a new structure 2 was elucidated for the minor O repeat and found to differ from the structure 1 only in the position of substitution of one of the rhamnose residues in the main chain. [structures: see text] A role of structural and immunochemical features of the LPS for defining the taxonomical position of the bacterium studied is discussed.

The following structure of the O-specific polysaccharide chain (O-antigen) of the Proteus vulgaris 032 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was established by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional NOESY and H-detected 1H,13C heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC) experiments: -->2)-alpha-L-RhapI-(1-->2)-alpha-L-RhapII-(1-->4)-beta-D-++ +GalpA(I)-(1-->3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GalpA(II)-(1-- >. In addition, an O-acetyl group was detected, which, most probably, is located at position 3 of a part of RhapI residues. Serological studies, using rabbit polyclonal anti-(P. vulgaris 032) serum, homologous and heterologous Proteus O-antigens and related artificial antigens, revealed the importance of an a-D-GalA-associated epitope in manifesting the immunospecificity of P. vulgaris 032 and substantiated serological relationships between the O-antigen studied and those of some other Proteus strains.

The structure of the neutral exocellular polysaccharide isolated from the Archaeon Haloferax gibbonsii (ATCC 33959) has been determined using acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis and NMR spectroscopy. The polysaccharide contained D-Man, D-Glc, D-Gal and L-Rha in the ratios 2:1:3:1. The substitution patterns of the sugar residues were deduced from the methylation analysis which indicated the polymer to be composed of a heptasaccharide repeating unit containing two branches. The 1H and 13C NMR resonances of the component sugars were assigned using COSY, HOHAHA, HMQC, and HMQC-TOCSY 2D NMR experiments and the sequence of the sugars in the repeating unit was determined from NOESY and HMBC experiments. The structure can be written as: [formula: see text]

O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus penneri strain 41 was studied using 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional COSY, heteronuclear 13C,1H-correlation (HETCOR) and one-dimensional NOE spectroscopy, and the following structure of a non-stoichiometrically O-acetylated hexasaccharide repeating unit was established:[structure: see text] where RGlcNAc is 2-acetamido-4-O-[(S)-1-carboxyethyl]-2-deoxyglucose. Cross-reactivity of anti-P. penneri 41 O-serum with other P. penneri strains is discussed, and a new, separate O62 serogroup is proposed which is the next Proteus O-serogroup containing P. penneri strains only.

The O-specific polysaccharide of Pseudomonas fluorescens biovar B, strain IMV 247, was studied by acid hydrolysis, GLC-MS and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 1D and 2D NOE, 2D hybrid TOCSY and ROESY (TORO), and 2D H-detected heteronuclear multiple-bond correlation (HMBC) experiments. The polysaccharide was found to contain L-rhamnose, 3.6-dideoxy-3-[(S)-3-hydroxybutyramido]-D-glucose (D-Qui3NHb), 2-acetamido- 2,4,6-trideoxy-4-[(S)-3-hydroxybutyramido-D-glucose (D-QuiNAc4NHb) and 2-acetamido-2- deoxy-D-galacturonic acid (D-GalNAcA). Partial acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharide resulted in a non-reducing GalNAcA-->QuiNAc4NHb disaccharide with the 3-hydroxybutyryl group glycosylated intramolecularly by the QuiN4N residue. The following structure of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established:-->4) -alpha-D-GalpNAcA-(1-->3)- alpha-D-QuipNAc4NHb-(1-->2)-beta-D-Quip3NHb-(1-->2)-alpha-L- Rhap(1-->.

A marked serological cross-reactivity was observed by ELISA and a precipitation test between anti-Proteus mirabilis O23 serum and the lipopolysaccharide as well as the O-specific polysaccharide from the Proteus mirabilis strain belonging to serogroup O6. The structures of the O-specific polysaccharides were elucidated using chemical and NMR spectroscopic analyses, and the only common component, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranose (beta-D-GlcNAc), was revealed, which was suggested to be responsible for the cross-reactivity observed. Both anti-O23 and anti-O6 sera were shown to react with 1, 3-Linked beta-D-GlcNAc-containing O-antigen from Salmonella enterica ssp. arizonae O59 also. The lack of reactivity of Smith-degraded P. mirabilis O6 O-specific polysaccharide with homologous antiserum indicated the crucial role of alpha-D-glucuronic acid in specific antibody binding.

The O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O25 was studied by acid hydrolysis and by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopies, including one-dimensional NOE and two-dimensional COSY and heteronuclear 13C,1H correlation (HETCOR) spectroscopy. The polysaccharide was found to contain 3-O-[(R)-1-carboxyethyl]-D-glucose (D-RGlc), and the following structure of the pentasaccharide repeating unit was established: [structure in text]

An acidic O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of the bacterium Proteus mirabilis O13 and found to contain D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, and N(epsilon)-(1-carboxyethyl)-N(alpha)-(D-galacturonoyl)lysine. On the basis of full acid hydrolysis and 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (COSY), H-detected heteronuclear 1H, 13C multi-quantum coherence (HMQC), and rotating-frame nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (ROESY), the following structure of the branched trisaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established [structure: see text]

A capsular polysaccharide was obtained from Alteromonas nigrifaciens IAM 13010T by saline extraction. On the basis of 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including one-dimensional (1D) NOE spectroscopy, 2D rotating-frame NOE spectroscopy (ROESY), and 1H-detected heteronuclear 1H,13C multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC), it was concluded that the polysaccharide contained inter alia an acidic sugar, 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (Kdo), and a rare amino sugar, 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-L-talose (L-6dTalNAc, N-acetylpneumosamine), and has a pentasaccharide repeating unit of the following structure: [equation: see text]

Based on monosaccharide analysis and 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, the following structure of the O-specific polysaccharide chain of Proteus vulgaris OX2 lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which defines the O2 specificity of Proteus, was established: [formula: see text] where L-QuiNAc is N-acetyl-L-quinovosamine (2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-L-glucose). Various strains of P. vulgaris OX2 used in the Weil-Felix test for serodiagnosis of rickettsiosis (spotted fevers, except for Rocky Mountain spotted fever) were shown to produce LPS with the same O-specific polysaccharide, which differs structurally and serologically from LPS of P. vulgaris OX19 used as antigen for serodiagnosis of typhus and Rocky Mountain spotted fever. O-Acetyl groups present in the polysaccharide are not important for manifesting the immunospecificity. ELISA confirmed that the epitope responsible for the cross-reactivity between sera from patients with Japanese spotted fever and P. vulgaris OX2 cells is located on the P. vulgaris LPS. At the same time, no cross-reaction was observed between rabbit anti-P. vulgaris OX2 antibodies and the spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsial cells. Therefore, human anti-SFG rickettsial antibodies and rabbit anti-P. vulgaris OX2 antibodies may bind to distinct epitopes on P. vulgaris OX2 LPS, and no epitope recognized by rabbit anti-P. vulgaris OX2 antibodies is present on the LPS or any other surface antigen of SFG rickettsiae.

On the basis of sugar analysis and 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, it was shown that the O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus penneri strain 15 has a trisaccharide repeating unit, including an acetal-linked pyruvic acid residue, and is structurally identical to the capsular polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris strain ATCC 49990. Serological studies supported this conclusion and demonstrated the presence in the homological antiserum of both anti-core and anti-O chain antibodies reacting with a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) epitope containing N-acetylglucosamine and galactose residues.

O-Antigens (lipopolysaccharides, LPS) were isolated by NaCl extraction from microbial biomass of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tabaci and purified by ultracentrifugation. Individual structural components of the LPS macromolecule (O-specific polysaccharide (O-PS), core oligosaccharide, and lipid A) were obtained and characterized. Fatty acids 3-OH-C10:0, C12:0, 2-OH-C12:0, 3-OH-C12:0, C16:1, C16:0, C18:1, and C18:0 were identified in the lipid A composition. Glucosamine, ethanolamine, and phosphoethanolamine were found in the hydrophilic part of the lipid A macromolecule in all strains tested. Lipid A preparations contained phosphorus and amino acids. Rhamnose, glucose, glucosamine, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid, heptose, alanine, and phosphorus were identified as the main core components. The strains differed in O-PS structure. We describe the O-chain of LPS in strain P-28. It contains repeating units of the following structure: [formula: see text] The O-PS structures of LPS from strains P-28 and 225 are identical, however, they differ substantially from that of strain 223. Both structures from strains 223 and 225 were reported previously. Antibodies to antigenic epitopes of O-PS, core, and lipid A were revealed in O-serum against the whole bacterial cells. Correlation of O-PS structure with the serological grouping of strains was observed.

An acidic O-specific polysaccharide from the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis O10 contains 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, D-galacturonic acid, and L-altruronic acid, the last-named sugar having not been found hitherto in O-antigens. Structure of a branched tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional COSY and rotating-frame NOE spectroscopy. The lateral L-altruronic acid residue plays the immunodominant role in manifestation of the O10 specificity of Proteus, whereas a disaccharide fragment of the main chain in common with the O-specific polysaccharide of P. mirabilis O43 provides the one-way serological cross-reactivity between anti-O10 serum and O43-antigen.

An acidic O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis O10 and studied after full acid hydrolysis and carboxyl reduction by 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (COSY), H-detected heteronuclear 1H,13C multi-quantum coherence (HMQC), and rotating-frame nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (ROESY). It was found that the polysaccharide contains 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, D-galacturonic acid, and L-altruronic acid, and the following structure of the branched tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established: [sequence: see text]

The polysaccharide chains of the lipopolysaccharides of the Proteus mirabilis serogroups O26 and O30 were studied using sugar and methylation analysis and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy and rotating-frame NOE spectroscopy. The polysaccharides were found to be acidic due to the presence of D-galacturonic acid and its amide with L-lysine in serogroup O26 or D-glucuronic acid in serogroup O30, and the structures of their tetrasaccharide repeating units were established. The O26-specific polysaccharide is structurally and serologically related to the O-specific polysaccharide of P. mirabilis O28, which includes amides of D-GalA with L-lysine and L-serine [Radziejewska-Lebrecht, J. et al. (1995) Eur. J. Biochem. 230, 705-712].

Based on acid hydrolysis, methylation, and one- and two-dimensional 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, including homonuclear and 1H, 13C heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy (COSY) and rotating-frame nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy (ROESY); it was found that the O-specific polysaccharide chain of the lipopolysaccharide of the bacterium Proteus mirabilis O30 is a hexosamino-glucuronan built up of tetrasaccharide repeating units having the following structure: [formula: see text] The degree of O-acetylation of 2-acetamido-2-deoxyglucose is about 70%.

The composition and structure of the O-specific polysaccharide chain of the bacterium Proteus mirabilis O26 lipopolysaccharide have been studied using one- and two-dimensional 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, including homonuclear correlation spectroscopy (COSY), H-detected 1H,13C heteronuclear multi-quantum coherence and rotating-frame nuclear Overhauser effect spectroscopy. It has been found that the polysaccharide is acidic due to the presence of D-galacturonic acid (D-GalA) residues, part of which are O-acetylated, while the other part form an amide with the alpha-amino group of L-lysine and is built up of tetrasaccharide repeating units having the following structure: [formula: see text] The P. mirabilis O26 polysaccharide is structurally similar to the O-specific polysaccharide of P. mirabilis O28 studied earlier by us and containing amides of D-galacturonic acid with L-lysine and L-serine.

The chemical structure of the O-specific polysaccharide chain of Proteus penneri 62 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) containing N-acetylisomuramic acid was established using acid hydrolysis, solvolysis with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Cross reactivity of the anti-O-serum P. penneri 62 with a number of other strains of the same species isolated in the USA, Canada, Germany and Poland is discussed.

Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) was obtained by water-saline extraction of the Alteromonas sp. CMM 155. On the basis of solvolysis with anhydrous HF and 1H- and 13C-NMR spectral data, including NOE experiments, it was concluded that the capsular polysaccharide had the following structure containing novel N-acyl-amino sugar and bacillosamine residues: --> 3)-alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1 --> 4)-alpha-L-GalApNAc(1 --> 3)- alpha-D-QuipNAc4NAc-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-Quip4NAlaAc-(1 -->

Like some Pseudomonas cepacia serogroups studied earlier, serogroups C, I (Nakamura), O1 and O4 (Heidt) are characterized by the presence of at least two structurally different O-antigenic polysaccharide chains in cell-wall lipopolysaccharides. On the basis of acid hydrolysis, methylation, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, including computer-assisted 13C-NMR-based analysis, the complete structures of the predominant polysaccharides of serogroups I (I), C and O4 (III) and the minor polysaccharides of serogroups I (II) and O1 (V) were established, and the structure of the predominant polysaccharide of serogroup O1 (IV) established earlier (Cox A. D., Wilkinson S. G.@Carbohydr. Res. 1990. V. 195. No 2. P. 295-301) was confirmed.

The O-specific polysaccharide of S. arizonae O21 was found to contain 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, 2-acetamidino-2,6-dideoxy-L-galactose, N-acetylneuraminic acid, and O-acetyl groups. On the basis of 1H and 13C NMR studies of the intact and O-deacetylated polysaccharide and oligosaccharide fragments obtained by solvolysis with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, partial methanolysis and partial hydrolysis, it was concluded that the O-specific polysaccharide has the following structure: [formula: see text]

The pathogenic bacterium Pseudomonas pseudomallei strain 57576 produces two partially O-acetylated O-antigenic polysaccharides (PS-I and PS-II). Methylation analysis and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including NOE experiments, showed PS-I to have the structure [formula: see text] and PS-II to have the structure [formula: see text] where 6dmanHep is the unusual higher sugar 6-deoxy-D-manno-heptose. PS-II is produced also by P. pseudomallei strains 100 and 110, and PS-I and O-deacetylated PS-II by strain 97.

O-Specific polysaccharide built up of trisaccharide repeating units containing 3-acetamidino-2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-D-mannuronic acid (ManNAcAmA), 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-D-mannuronic acid (Man(NAc)2A), N-acetyl-D-fucosamine (FucNAc), and O-acetyl group was obtained on mild acid hydrolysis of P. aeruginosa O25 (Wokatsch classification) lipopolysaccharide. Basing on de-O-acetylation of polysaccharide with aqueous triethylamine accompanied by hydrolysis of acetamidino group to acetamido group, as well as on the 1H and 13C NMR data, the following structure of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established: (Formula: see text) P. aeruginosa O25 polysaccharide has the same carbohydrate skeleton as that of P. aeruginosa O3a,b (Lányi classification) and differs from the latter only by the presence of the O-acetyl group at position 4 of N-acetylfucosamine.

Mild acid degradation of lipopolysaccharide from Pseudomonas aeruginosa O(3a), 3d, 3f (Lányi classification) afforded O-specific polysaccharide containing N-acetyl-D-fucosamine, 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-D-mannuronic acid, 3-acetamidino-2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-L-guluronic and D-mannuronic acid as well as O-acetyl groups. On the basis of O-deacetylation, selective cleavage with anhydrous fluoride, chemical transformation of the oligosaccharides obtained (hydrolysis or reductive deamination of the acetamidino group into acetamido or ethylamino group, respectively) and analysis by 13C NMR spectroscopy, it was concluded that the polysaccharide is built up mainly by trisaccharide repeating units of types A and B in the ratio approximately 2:1: (Formula: see text). The units of both types most probably enter the same polymeric chain. If so, such a hybrid structure can be accounted for by incompleteness of epimerization at C5 of the acetamidino derivative of mannuronic acid at the polymer level in the course of biosynthesis of this polysaccharide.

On the basis of non-destructive analysis by means of 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy and calculation of specific optical rotation, it was concluded that O-specific polysaccharide of Pseudomonas cepacia strain IMV 4207 (serotype A) has the structure (I): (formula; see text) Two structurally different polysaccharides were found in the ratio of approximately 2.5:1 in P. cepacia strain IMV 598/2 which is serologically related to serotype A in Nakamura classification and serotype 2 in Heidt classification. The minor polysaccharide has the structure (I) whereas the major one possesses the structure (II) which is characteristic of the formerly studied O-specific polysaccharide of P. cepacia strain IMV 4137 belonging to serotype 2: ----4)-beta-D-Galp-(1----2)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1----.

On the basis of acid hydrolysis, methylation, 1H and 13C NMR analysis, and calculation of specific optical rotation, the following structures were established for O-specific polysaccharides of Pseudomonas cepacia serotypes B and E: ----3)-beta-D-Galf-(1----3)-alpha-D-Fucp-(1----serotype B ----3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1----3)-alpha-D-Fucp-(1----serotype E A characteristic feature of the polysaccharides is the presence of D-fucose, rather rare for bacterial antigens.

O-Specific side chain of P. aeruginosa immunotype 3 lipopolysaccharide is composed of N-acetyl-D-fucosamine (FucNAc), 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-L-guluronic acid (GulN2Ac2A) and 3-acetamidino = 2-acetamido = 2,3 = dideoxy = D-mannuronic acid (ManNAcAmA). The latter sugar is identified on the basis of solvolysis with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, 13C NMR spectroscopy and fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry analysis, as well as of reactions of acetamidino function (alkaline hydrolysis to acetamido group and reductive deamination to ethylamino group). Earlier, in the course of investigation of P. aeruginosa O3 lipopolysaccharides, the structure of 1-methyl-2-imidazoline was erroneously ascribed to the acetamidino group. The following structure was established for the repeating unit of immunotype 3 polysaccharide which is identical to P. aeruginosa O3(a),3c polysaccharide: ----4)-beta-D-ManNAcAmA-(1----4)-alpha-L-GulN2Ac2A-(1----3)- beta-D-FucNac-(1----.

On mild acid degradation on lipopolysaccharides of seven Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotypes, O-specific polysaccharides were obtained and their structures established. A peculiar feature of the polysaccharides is the presence of various, mostly acidic, mono- and diaminosugars, many of which have not previously been found in nature. The absence of serological cross-reactions (inhibition of passive haemagglutination) between lipopolysaccharides of seven immunotypes correlates with the absence of any common oligosaccharide fragments in their O-specific chains. The data obtained revealed structural and serological interrelations between O-antigens of seven immunotypes and P. aeruginosa O-serotypes, and showed that immunotypes 1 and 7 should be included into the serological classification scheme as individual O-serotypes.

O-specific polysaccharides, obtained on mild acid degradation of lipopolysacchrides of the serologically related strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa O3 (Lányi classification), O25 (Wokatsch classification) and immunotypes 3 and 7 (Fisher classification), are built up of trisaccharide repeating units involving 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-galactose (N-acetyl-D-fucosamine), 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-D-mannuronic acid or 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-L-guluronic acid and 3-acetamidino-2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-D-mannuronic acid or 3-acetamidino-2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-L-guluronic acid. Lányi O3(a),3d,3f and Wokatsch O25 polysaccharides contain also O-acetyl groups. On the basis of solvolysis with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, resulting in trisaccharide fragments with N-acetylfucosamine residue at the reducing terminus, chemical modifications of the acetamidino group (alkaline hydrolysis to the acetamido group or reductive deamination to the ethylamino group), as well as analysis by 1H-NMR (including nuclear Overhauser effect experiments) and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, and fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry, it was concluded that the repeating units of the polysaccharides have the following structures: (Formula: see text) where HexNAcAmA = alpha-L-GulNAcAmA (approximately 70%) or beta-D-ManNacAMA (approximately 30%). Lányi O3(a),3d,3f polysaccharide involves two types of repeating units, which differ from each other only in the configuration at C-5 of the 3-acetamidino-2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxyuronic acid residue. Lányi O3(a),3c,O3a,3d,3e and Fisher immunotypes 3 and 7 polysaccharides contain, together with the major repeating units shown above, a small proportion of units in which the derivative of alpha-L-guluronic acid is replaced by the corresponding beta-D-manno isomer. The data obtained provide the opportunity to substantiate the serological interrelations between these strains of P. aeruginosa by the presence in the O-specific polysaccharides of common monosaccharides or disaccharide fragments. The distinctions between them stem from the presence or absence of the O-acetyl group, a different configuration of the glycosidic linkage of the N-acetylfucosamine residue and/or a different configuration at C-5 of one or both derivatives of diaminouronic acids.

O-Specific polysaccharide chain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotype 7 lipopolysaccharide is composed of 3-acetamidino-2-acetamido-2,3-dideoxy-L-guluronic acid (GulNAcAmA), 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-D-mannuronic acid (ManN2Ac2A), and N-acetyl-D-fucosamine (FucNAc). On solvolysis with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, the polysaccharide afforded a trisaccharide containing all its components. Borohydride reduction of the trisaccharide in boric acid solution resulted in conversion of reducing fucosamine into fucosaminitol, whereas in water the reduction was accompanied by reductive deamination of acetamidino function into ethylamino group. On hydrolysis with aqueous triethylamine, acetamidino group gave acetamido group. Analysis of the trisaccharides thus obtained by 1H NMR spectroscopy (including nuclear Overhauser effect), 13C NMR spectroscopy, and fast-atom bombardment mass spectrometry allowed the determination of the structure of the unusual uronic acid derivative and the following structure of the polysaccharide repeating unit: -4)-alpha-L-GulNAcAmA-(1-4)-beta-D-ManN2Ac2A-(1-3)-alpha-D-+ ++FucNAc-(1-.