Capsule impedes adhesion to and invasion of epithelial cells by Klebsiella pneumoniae.

The adhesion of K21a, K26, K36, and K50 capsulated Klebsiella strains to ileocecal (HCT-8) and bladder (T24) epithelial cell lines was significantly lower than that of their corresponding spontaneous noncapsulated variants K21a/3, K26/1, K36/3, and K50/3, respectively. Internalization of the bacteria by both epithelial cell lines was also significantly reduced. Similarly, a capsule-switched derivative, K2(K36), that exhibited a morphologically larger K36 capsule and formed more capsular material invaded the ileocecal epithelial cell line poorly compared to the corresponding K2 parent strain. None of the capsulated strains exhibited significant mannose-sensitive type 1 fimbriae, whereas two of the noncapsulated variants K21a/3 and K50/3 exhibited potent mannose-sensitive hemagglutinating activity. Although hemagglutinating activity that could be attributed to mannose-resistant Klebsiella type 3 fimbriae was weak in all strains, in several cases the encapsulated parent strains exhibited lower titers than their corresponding noncapsulated variants. Although the level of adhesion to the ileocecal cells is not different from adhesion to bladder cells, bacterial internalization by bladder cells was significantly lower than internalization by ileocecal cells, suggesting that bladder cells lack components required for the internalization of Klebsiella.

The structure of the O-specific polysaccharide of Escherichia coli O117:K98:H4.

The primary structure of the O-antigen of Escherichia coli O117 was shown by monosaccharide analysis, methylation analysis, and by 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy to be composed of linear pentasaccharide repeating units with the structure: -->3)-alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1-->4)-beta-D-GalpNAc-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rhap- (1-->4)- alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->

The structure of the O-antigen of Escherichia coli O116:K+:H10.

The primary structure of the O-antigen of Escherichia coli O116:K+:H10 was shown by monosaccharide analysis, a partial hydrolysis study and by 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy to be composed of linear pentasaccharide repeating units with the structure: -->6)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1-->4)-alpha-D-GalpA++ +-(1-->3)- beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-beta-D-Quip4NAc-(1-->.

Structural studies on the acidic exopolysaccharide from Haloferax denitrificans ATCC 35960.

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 extracellular polysaccharide of Pichia (Hansenula) holstii NRRL Y-2448: the phosphorylated side chains.

The exopolysaccharide produced by Pichia (Hansenula) holstii NRRL Y-2448 is composed of a phosphomannan core to which oligosaccharide diester phosphate side chains are appended. The oligosaccharides of the side chains were released as oligosaccharide phosphates and neutral oligosaccharides by mild hydrolysis with aqueous acetic acid and aqueous hydrogen fluoride, respectively. The liberated oligosaccharide phosphates were studied by NMR spectroscopy and by electrospray and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. The structures of the neutral oligosaccharides were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic experiments. Further insight into the length of the side chains was obtained from a matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation-time of flight mass spectrometric study of high and low molecular weight fragments obtained from partial acid hydrolysis of the native polysaccharide.

The structure of the exocellular polysaccharide produced by the Archaeon Haloferax gibbonsii (ATCC 33959).

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]

The capsular antigen of Escherichia coli O9:K33:H-: a polysaccharide containing both pyruvate and O-acetyl groups.

The primary structure of the acidic capsular antigen of Escherichia coli O9:K33:H- was shown by glycose analysis, methylation analysis, and by 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy to be composed of branched tetrasaccharide repeating units with the structure: [formula: see text]

Structural studies on the Shigella-like Escherichia coli O121 O-specific polysaccharide.

The O-specific polysaccharide isolated from the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli O121 by mild acid hydrolysis has been studied using mainly NMR spectroscopy. The polysaccharide was treated with mild base to yield a O-deacetylated polysaccharide which contained D-GlcNAc, D-GalNAcA, D-GalNAcAN (2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galacturonamide) and D-Qui4NAcGly (where D-Qui4N is 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-glucose) in equimolar proportions. The presence of the amide was confirmed by recording the 1H NMR spectrum of the O-deacetylated polysaccharide at different pH values. The O-acetyl group was located on O-3 of the GalNAcAN and the structure of the polysaccharide can be written as [sequence: see text] This structure is almost identical to that previously reported for the O-specific polysaccharide of Shigella dysenteriae type 7 LPS, the only difference being that O-acetylation is stoichiometric in the latter.

Structural analysis of the capsular antigen of Escherichia coli O8:K41:H11.

The primary structure of the acidic capsular antigen of Escherichia coli O8:K41:H11 was shown by monosaccharide analysis, methylation analysis, and by 1D and 2D (1)H amd (13)C NMR spectroscopy to be composed of branched pentasaccharide repeating units with the structure (formula: see text)

SP-A enhances phagocytosis of Klebsiella by interaction with capsular polysaccharides and alveolar macrophages.

We found that surfactant protein A (SP-A) enhances phagocytosis of Klebsiella pneumoniae K21a but not of K2 serotypes by alveolar macrophages. SP-A interacted with the capsule of K21a (containing Man alpha1 Man sequences) as shown by SP-A-induced agglutination of the bacteria, by binding of SP-A-coated particles onto the bacterial surface, and by binding of SP-A to immobilized parent K21a strain and recombinant strains that switched their capsule from K2 to K21a. In contrast, only marginal binding of SP-A to K2 parent strain (lacking this sequence) could be detected. Furthermore, binding of capsular polysaccharide of K21a to immobilized SP-A was inhibited by mannan but not by lipopolysaccharide and K2 capsular polysaccharide. SP-A-treated macrophages bound increased numbers of parent K21a strain and recombinant strains of K21a capsule type but considerably less parent K2 strain. SP-A also enhanced killing of K21a strains by macrophages. The enhanced binding of K21a by macrophages pretreated with SP-A was inhibited by mannan, suggesting that binding is mediated by the mannose receptor on macrophages. We conclude that SP-A increases phagocytosis of the Klebsiella by two mechanisms, one of which is by serving as an opsonin, which binds to the capsular polysaccharides of the bacteria and potentially to SP-A receptors on the macrophages, and the other by activating the macrophages, resulting in increased activity of the mannose receptor.

The structure of the exopolysaccharide produced by the halophilic Archaeon Haloferax mediterranei strain R4 (ATCC 33500).

The halophilic Archaeon Haloferax mediterranei exudes into the growth medium a high molecular weight sulfated polysaccharide. The structure of the repeating unit of this polymer was determined by a combination of glycose, methylation, and sulfate analysis, periodate oxidation, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis of the native and periodate-oxidised/reduced polysaccharides. The location of the sulfate group was established from the 1H and 13C NMR data. The structure of the repeating unit of the polysaccharide may be written as [formula: see text]

The extracellular polysaccharide of Pichia (Hansenula) holstii NRRL Y-2448: the structure of the phosphomannan backbone.

The phosphomannan core of the exopolysaccharide of Pichia (Hansenula) holstii NRRL Y-2448 was isolated after hydrolytic removal of the oligosaccharide phosphate side-chains. The core polysaccharide and its dephosphorylated derivative were subjected to extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy which yielded information on the linkage sites and on the sequence of the mannosyl residues in the major oligosaccharide repeating unit. The most probable structure for the repeating unit was -[6-O-PO3H2-alpha-D-Man-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Man-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Man-(1 -->2)]-alpha-D-Man-(1-->6)-[alpha-D-Man-(1-->2)]-alpha-D-Man-(1-->6)-. A semiquantitative conformational analysis was performed by Monte Carlo simulations and the result was confirmed by comparison with the experimentally determined NMR data. The distance distribution for the phosphate groups was determined from the modeling and was found to cover the expected range of distances for phosphorylated high-mannose oligosaccharides.

K1 and K3 capsular antigens of Klebsiella induce tumor necrosis factor activities.

Capsular polysaccharide antigens isolated from Klebsiella pneumoniae sero-type 1 (K1) and sero-type 3 (K3) could induce tumor necrosis factor-alpha in ICR mice. K1 and K3 capsular antigens were found to be non-toxic by brine shrimp bioassay. When injected into Ehrlich ascites tumor-bearing mice, both K1 and K3 capsular antigens exhibited significant suppression in the growth of tumor cells. The significance of these observations is discussed.

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide of Escherichia coli O8:K43:H11.

The primary structure of the acidic capsular polysaccharide of Escherichia coli 08:K43:H11 was shown by monosaccharide analysis, methylation analysis, beta-elimination, and by 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy to be composed of branched pentasaccharide repeating units with the structure.

Relationships among capsular structure, phagocytosis, and mouse virulence in Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Klebsiella pneumoniae strains of the K2 capsular serotype are usually highly virulent in mice, which is in contrast to the low virulence of most other serotypes. Here we used a genetic approach to examine the relative contribution of capsule type to the virulence of K. pneumoniae in mice. We used wild-type strains expressing capsular polysaccharide (CPS) serotypes K2 (strain KPA1) and K21a (strains KPB1 and KPC1), which were then used to construct capsule-switched derivatives. The close proximity of the cps gene cluster to selectable his markers made it possible to mobilize the cps genes by conjugation from one serotype (donor) to another (recipient) and to obtain recombinants in which interserotype switching had occurred by reciprocal recombination. Each capsule-switched derivative examined of the KPA and KPC strain backgrounds produced a CPS that was immunologically and structurally identical to that of the donor. Strain background was confirmed by demonstrating restriction fragment length polymorphism patterns identical to those of the respective recipients. The parent strains were then compared with capsule-switched recombinants for phenotypic properties associated with virulence. Clearance from the bloodstreams of mice was rapid in serotype K21a strains of either wild-type or recombinant origin, whereas K2 strains remained viable in the blood during the period examined. These differences appeared to be dependent upon the CPS type but independent of strain background. Binding to macrophages was higher in K21a strains than in those with the K2 capsule and was also independent of the strain background. Both blood clearance and macrophage-binding activities were completely inhibited by yeast mannan, suggesting that they were mediated via the macrophage mannose receptor. The K2 parent strain was highly virulent to mice (50% lethal dose [LD50], 3 x 10(3)), while the K21a parent strains demonstrated low virulence (LD50, > 2 x 10(8)). Interestingly, the virulence of recombinant KPC10(cpsK2), originally of the KPC1(cpsK21a) background, was intermediate (LD50, 4 x 10(5)). In contrast, both cpsK21a recombinants of the originally virulent KPA1 (cpsK2) background became nearly avirulent (LD50, > 2 x 10(8)). Six additional serotypes (K12, K24, K32, K55, K62, and K67) were examined, and all showed a positive correlation between the ability of the Klebsiella serotype to interact with a human mannose receptor, as expressed by Cos I cell recombinants, and the LD50 of the serotype. These results suggest that expression of a capsule which is recognized by the mannose receptor markedly affects the interaction with macrophages and blood clearance.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

The structure of the O-specific polysaccharide from Escherichia coli O113 lipopolysaccharide.

The O-specific polysaccharide from Escherichia coli O113 lipopolysaccharide was separated from the core and lipid A by mild acid hydrolysis and purified by GPC. Methylation analysis and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic studies of the O-deacetylated polysaccharide allowed the determination of the structure of the pentasaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide which can be written as [equation: see text] The position of the O-acetyl groups was not determined.

A partial reductive-cleavage study of the capsular polysaccharide of Escherichia coli K57.

Trideuteriomethylated and methylated derivatives of the capsular polysaccharide of Escherichia coli K57 were partially cleaved by Et3SiH, using Me3SiOSO2 Me and Me3SiOSO2CF3 as catalysts, to produce oligosaccharide-anhydroalditols. The structures of the trideuteriomethylated trisaccharide- and tetrasaccharide-anhydroalditols isolated were established by FABMS and NMR spectroscopy. Although conditions for the selective production of the tetrasaccharide-anhydroalditol could not be established, oligosaccharide-anhydroalditols were isolated in sufficiently high yield to make this an attractive approach for the structural elucidation of the repeating units of bacterial polysaccharides.

Structural determination of the capsular antigen of Escherichia coli O8:K25:H9.

The primary structure of the acidic capsular antigen of Escherichia coli O8:K25:H9 was shown by monosaccharide analysis, methylation analysis, and by 1D and 2D 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy to be composed of linear tetrasaccharide repeating units having the structure:

Structural investigation of the capsular polysaccharide of Escherichia coli O101 : K103 : H- using bacteriophage degradation and NMR spectroscopy.

NMR spectroscopy was performed on the depyruvated capsular antigen of E. coli K103 and on the oligosaccharide obtained by depolymerisation of the native polysaccharide with a viral-borne endoglycanase. This capsular polysaccharide is the only one to be co-expressed with O group 101 and joins a small group of unusual capsular polysaccharides which possess pyruvic acid as the only acidic function. The primary structure was shown to be composed of the repeating unit: [formula: see text]