Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O15 containing a novel regioisomer of N-acetylmuramic acid, 2-acetamido-4-O-[(R)-1-carboxyethyl]-2-deoxy-D-glucose

An acidic O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O15 and studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, and H-detected 1H,(13)C HMQC experiments. The polysaccharide was found to contain an ether of GlcNAc with lactic acid, and the following structure of the repeating unit was established:-->3)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc4(R-Lac)6Ac-(1-->2)-beta-D-GlcpA-(1-->3)-alpha-L-6dTalp2Ac-(1-->3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->where L-6dTal and D-GlcNAc4(R-Lac) are 6-deoxy-L-talose and 2-acetamido-4-O-[(R)-1-carboxyethyl]-2-deoxy-D-glucose, respectively. The latter sugar, which to our knowledge has not been hitherto found in nature, was isolated from the polysaccharide by solvolysis with anhydrous triflic acid and identified by comparison with the authentic synthetic compound. Serological studies with the Smith-degraded polysaccharide showed an importance of 2-substituted GlcA for manifesting of the immunospecificity of P. vulgaris O15.     

Structure of a glucosyl phosphate-containing O-polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O42

An O-polysaccharide was isolated by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O42 and studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with 1H, 13C and 31P NMR spectroscopy. The following structure of the polysaccharide having a linear pentasaccharide phosphate repeating unit was established: -->3)-alpha-L-FucpNAc4Ac-(1-->4)-alpha-D-Glcp-1-P-(O-->4)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->3)-alpha-L-FucpNAc4Ac-(1-->3))-alpha-D-GlcpNAc6Ac-(1--> where the degree of O-acetylation is approximately 80% on GlcNAc and approximately 40% on each of the FucNAc residues. A weak serological cross-reaction of anti-P. vulgaris O42 serum with the lipopolysaccharide of P. vulgaris O39 was observed and accounted for by the sharing of a disaccharide fragment of the O-polysaccharides.     

Structure of a new acidic O-antigen of Proteus vulgaris O22 containing O-acetylated 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxy-D-glucose.

The acidic O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O22 was studied using 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, and H-detected 1H, 13C heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC) experiments, and the following structure for the branched pentasaccharide repeating unit was established: [sequence: see text] where Qui3NAc is 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxyglucose, O-acetylation of QuiNAc at position 4 is stoichiometric and at position 2 nonstoichiometric. Serological relationships of P. vulgaris O22 with some other Proteus strains were substantiated on the level of the O-antigen structures.     

Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O4 containing a new component of bacterial polysaccharides, 4,6-dideoxy-4

A high-molecular-mass O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of Proteus vulgaris O4 lipopolysaccharide followed by GPC. The polysaccharide was studied by chemical methods along with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including two-dimensional COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, H-detected 1H,13C HMQC, and 1H,13C HMBC experiments. Solvolysis of the polysaccharide with trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) acid resulted in a GlcpA-(1 --> 3)-GlcNAc disaccharide and a novel amino sugar derivative, 4,6-dideoxy-4-[N-[(R)-3-hydroxybutyryl]-L-alanyl]amino-D-glucose [Qui4N(HbAla)]. On the basis of the data obtained, the following structure of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the O-specific polysaccharide was established: --> 4)-beta-D-GlcpA-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-Quip4N(HbAla)-(1 --> 3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1 -->. This structure is unique among the O-specific polysaccharides, which is in accordance with classification of the strain studied in a separate Proteus serogroup.     

Structure of a lactic acid ether-containing and glycerol phosphate-containing O-polysaccharide from Proteus mirabilis O40

An O-polysaccharide was isolated by mild acid hydrolysis from the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis O40 and studied by NMR spectroscopy, including 2D 1H, 1H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, and 1H, 13C HMQC experiments, along with chemical methods. The polysaccharide was found to contain an ether of GlcNAc with lactic acid and glycerol phosphate in the main chain and to have the following structure: --> 3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc4(R-Lac)-(1 --> 3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1 --> 3)-D-Gro-1-P-(O --> 3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc-(1 --> where D-GlcpNAc4(R-Lac) stands for 2-acetamido-4-O-[(R)-1-carboxyethyl]-2-deoxy-D-glucose. This structure is unique among the known structures of the Proteus O-polysaccharides, which is in agreement with the classification of the strain studied into a separate O-serogroup. A serological relatedness of P. mirabilis O40 with some other Proteus strains was revealed and discussed in view of the O-polysaccharide structures.     

Structure and cross-reactivity of the O-antigen of Providencia stuartii O18 containing 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxy-D-glucose

The O-polysaccharide (O-antigen) of Providencia stuartii O18 was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide and studied by chemical methods and NMR spectroscopy, including 2D 1H,1H COSY, TOCSY, NOESY and 1H,13C HSQC experiments. The following structure of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established: [structure: see text] where Qui3NAc is 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxyglucose. Anti-P. stuartii O18 serum cross-reacted with the O-antigen of Proteus genomospecies 4, which could be accounted for the marked structural similarities of the main chain.     

Structures of the O-polysaccharides and classification of Proteus genomospecies 4, 5 and 6 into respective Proteus serogroups

An acidic branched O-polysaccharide was isolated by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Proteus genomospecies 4 and studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, ROESY and H-detected 1H, 13C HSQC experiments. The following structure of the pentasaccharide repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide was established, which is unique among Proteus polysaccharide structures: [structure: see text] where Qui3NAc stands for 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxyglucose. Based on the O-polysaccharide structure and serological data, we propose classifying Proteus genomospecies 4 into a new, separate Proteus serogroup, O56. A weak cross-reactivity of Proteus genomospecies 4 antiserum with LPS of Providencia stuartii O18 and Proteus vulgaris OX2 was observed and is discussed in view of a similarity of the O-polysaccharide structures. Structural and serological investigations showed that Proteus genomospecies 5 and 6 should be classified into the existing Proteus serogroups O8 and O69, respectively.     

Structure of the acidic O-specific polysaccharide from Proteus vulgaris O39 containing 5,7-diacetamido-3,5,7,9-tetradeoxy-L-glycero-L-manno-non-2-ulosonic acid.

The O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O39 was found to contain a new acidic component of Proteus lipopolysaccharides, 5,7-diacetamido-3,5,7,9-tetradeoxy-L-glycero-L-manno-non-2-ulosonic acid (di-N-acetylpseudaminic acid, Pse5Ac7Ac). The following structure of the polysaccharide was determined by NMR spectroscopy, including 2D 1H,(1)H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, and 1H,(13)C HMQC experiments, along with selective cleavage of the polysaccharide by solvolysis with anhydrous trifluoromethanesulfonic (triflic) acid: -->8)-beta-Psep5Ac7Ac-(2-->3)-alpha-L-FucpNAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1--> The structure established is unique among the O-specific polysaccharides, which is in accordance with classification of the strain studied into a separate Proteus serogroup.     

Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Providencia alcalifaciens O19

Studies of the O-polysaccharide chain of the lipopolysaccharide (O-antigen) of Providencia alcalifaciens O19 by sugar and methylation analyses along with NMR spectroscopy, including 2D 1H,1H COSY, TOCSY, NOESY and 1H,13C HSQC experiments, showed that the pentasaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide has the following structure: [structure: see text] where Fuc3NAc is 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxygalactose. The unique structure of the O-antigen and serological data are in consistence with classification of this bacterium in a separate Providencia serogroup.     

Structure and cross-reactivity of the O-antigen of Proteus vulgaris O8.

A high-molecular-mass O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of Proteus vulgaris O8 lipopolysaccharide followed by gel permeation chromatography. Studies of the polysaccharide by sugar and methylation analyses and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, and H-detected 1H, 13C heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC) experiments, demonstrated the presence of a tetrasaccharide repeating unit having the following structure: [sequence: see text] The role of an epitope associated with the alpha-L-FucpNAc-(1-->3)-D-GlcpNAc disaccharide in serological cross-reactivity of P. vulgaris O8 is discussed.     

Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis CCUG 10701 (OB) classified into a new Proteus serogroup, O74

An acidic O-polysaccharide was isolated by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus mirabilis CCUG 10701 (OB) and studied by chemical analyses and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy. The following structure of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the polysaccharide was established: --> 3)-beta-D-GlcpNAc6Ac-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-GalpA4Ac-(1--> 3)-alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1 --> 4)-alpha-D-GalpA-(1 -->, where the degree of O-acetylation at position 6 of GlcNAc is approximately 50% and at position 4 of beta-GalA approximately 60%. Based on the unique structure of the O-polysaccharide and serological data, it is proposed to classify P. mirabilis CCUG 10701 (OB) into a new Proteus serogroup, O74.     

Structure of a new ribitol teichoic acid-like O-polysaccharide of a serologically separate Proteus vulgaris strain, TG 276-1, classified into a new Proteus serogroup O53

An unusual ribitol teichoic acid-like O-polysaccharide was isolated by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide from a previously non-classified Proteus vulgaris strain TG 276-1. Structural studies using chemical analyses and 2D (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy showed that the polysaccharide is a zwitterionic polymer with a repeating unit containing 2-acetamido-4-amino-2,4,6-trideoxy-D-galactose (D-FucNAc4N) and two D-ribitol phosphate (D-Rib-ol-5-P) residues and having the following structure:[formula: see text] where the non-glycosylated ribitol residue is randomly mono-O-acetylated. Based on the unique O-polysaccharide structure and the finding that the strain studied is serologically separate among Proteus bacteria, we propose to classify P. vulgaris strain TG 276-1 into a new Proteus serogroup, O53.     

Structure of an O-acetylated acidic O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O46

An acidic O-specific polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O46 and studied by chemical methods (O-deacetylation, sugar and methylation analyses, partial solvolysis) and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Solvolysis of the O-deacetylated polysaccharide with trifluoromethanesulfonic acid resulted in a alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1 --> 3)-D-GlcA disaccharide that demonstrated the usefulness of this reagent for selective cleavage of heteropolysaccharides. The following structure for the polysaccharide was established: --> 4)-alpha-D-Glcp6Ac(1 --> 3)-beta-D-GlcpA4Ac-(1 --> 3)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-GlcpA4Ac-(1 --> where the degree of O-acetylation is approximately 65% at position 6 of Glc and 80-95% at position 4 of GlcA residues.     

Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O44: a new O-antigen that contains an amide of D-glucuronic acid with L-alanine

The O-polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O44, strain PrK 67/57 was studied by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, H-detected 1H, 13C HMQC, HMQC-TOCSY and HMBC experiments. The polysaccharide was found to contain an amide of D-glucuronic acid with L-alanine [D-GlcA6(L-Ala)], and the following structure of the linear pentasaccharide repeating unit was established: [structure: see text]. The structural data of the O-polysaccharide and the results of serological studies with P. vulgaris O44 O-antiserum showed that the strain studied is unique among Proteus bacteria, which is in agreement with its classification in a separate Proteus serogroup, O44.     

Structure of the O-polysaccharide leads to classification of Proteus penneri 31 in Proteus serogroup O19

O-polysaccharide was obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Proteus penneri strain 31. Sugar and methylation analyses along with NMR spectroscopic studies, including 2D 1H,1H COSY, TOCSY, ROESY, 1H,13C and 1H,31P HMQC experiments, demonstrated the following structure of the polysaccharide: [carbohydrate structure: see text] where FucNAc is 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxygalactose and EtnP is 2-aminoethyl phosphate. The polysaccharide studied has the same carbohydrate backbone as the O-polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris O19. Based on this finding and close serological relatedness of the LPS of the two strains, it is proposed to classify P. penneri 31 in Proteus serogroup O19 as an additional subgroup. In contrast, D-GlcNAc6PEtn and alpha-L-FucNAc-(1-->3)-D-GlcNAc shared with a number of other Proteus O-polysaccharides could not provide any significant cross-reactivity of the corresponding LPS with rabbit polyclonal O-antiserum against P. penneri 31.     

Structure of a 2-aminoethyl phosphate-containing O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus penneri 63 from a new serogroup O68.

Lipopolysaccharide of Proteus penneri strain 63 was degraded by mild acid to give a high molecular mass O-specific polysaccharide that was isolated by gel-permeation chromatography. Sugar and methylation analyses and NMR spectroscopic studies, including two-dimensional 1H, 1H COSY, TOCSY rotating-frame NOE spectroscopy, H-detected 1H,13C and 1H,31P heteronuclear multiple-quantum coherence (HMQC), and 1H, 13C HMQC-TOCSY experiments, demonstrated the following structure of the polysaccharide: where FucNAc is 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxygalactose and PEtn is 2-aminoethyl phosphate. The polysaccharide studied shares some structural features, such as the presence of D-GlcNAc6PEtn and an alpha-L-FucNAc-(1-->3)-D-GlcNAc disaccharide, with other Proteus O-specific polysaccharides. A marked cross-reactivity of P. penneri 63 O-antiserum with P. vulgaris O12 was observed and substantiated by a structural similarity of the O-specific polysaccharides of the two strains. In spite of this, the polysaccharide of P. penneri 63 has the unique structure among Proteus O-antigens, and therefore a new, separate serogroup, O68, is proposed for this strain.     

Structural elucidation of the O-antigenic polysaccharide from the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strain 180/C3 and its immunochemical relationship with E. coli O5 and O65

The structure of the O-antigen polysaccharide (PS) from the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli strain 180/C3 has been determined. Sugar and methylation analysis together with (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy were the main methods used. The PS is composed of tetrasaccharide repeating units with the following structure: -->2)beta-D-Quip3NAc-(1-->3)beta-D-RIBf-(1-->4)beta-D-Galp-(1-->3)alpha-D-GalpNAc-(1-->. Analysis of NMR data indicates that the presented sequence of sugar residues also represents the biological repeating unit of the O-chain. The structure is closely related to that of O-antigen polysaccharide from E. coli O5 and partially to that of E. coli O65. The difference between the O-antigen from the 180/C3 strain and that of E. coli O5 is the linkage to the D-Quip3NAc residue, which in the latter strain is 4-O-substituted. The E. coli O65 O-antigen contains as part of its linear pentasaccharide repeating unit a similar structural element, namely -->4)-beta-d-GalpA-(1-->3)-alpha-D-GlcpNAc-(1-->2)-beta-D-Quip3NAc-(1-->, thereby indicating that a common epitope could be present for the two polysaccharides. Monospecific anti-E. coli O5 rabbit serum did not distinguish between the two positional isomeric structures neither in slide agglutination nor in an indirect enzyme immunoassay. The anti-O65 serum did react with both the 180/C3 and O5 LPS showing a partial cross-reactivity.     

Structures of two O-chain polysaccharides of Citrobacter gillenii O9a,9b lipopolysaccharide. A new homopolymer of 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-mannose (perosamine).

Mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Citro- bacter gillenii O9a,9b released a polysaccharide (PS), which was found to consist of a single monosaccharide, 4- acetamido-4,6-dideoxy-d-mannose (d-Rha4NAc, N-acetyl-d-perosamine). PS was studied by methylation analysis and (1)H-NMR and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy, using two-dimensional (1)H,(1)H COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, and H-detected (1)H,(13)C heteronuclear correlation experiments. It was found that PS includes two structurally different polysaccharides: an alpha1-->2-linked homopolymer of N-acetyl-d-perosamine [-->2)-alpha-d-Rhap4NAc-(1-->, PS2] and a polysaccharide composed of tetrasaccharide repeating units (PS1) with the following structure: -->3)-alpha-d-Rhap4NAc-(1-->2)-alpha-d-Rhap4NAc-(1-->2)-alpha-d-Rhap4NAc-(1-->3)-alpha-d-Rhap4 N Ac2Ac-(1--> where the degree of O-acetylation of a 3-substituted Rha4NAc residue at position 2 is approximately 70%. PS could be fractionated into PS1 and PS2 by gel-permeation chromatography on TSK HW-50S. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization MS data indicate sequential chain elongation of both PS1 and PS2 by a single sugar unit, with O-acetylation in PS1 beginning at a certain chain length. Anti-(C. gillenii O9a,9b) serum reacted with PS1 in double immunodiffusion and immunoblotting, whereas neither PS2 nor the lipopolysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae O1 with a structurally related O-chain polysaccharide were reactive.     

Structural and serological studies of the related O-specific polysaccharides of Proteus vulgaris O21 and Proteus mirabilis O48 having oligosaccharide-phosphate repeating units.

The O-specific polysaccharide chains (O-antigens) of the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of Proteus mirabilis O48 and Proteus vulgaris O21 were found to have tetrasaccharide and pentasaccharide repeating units, respectively, interlinked by a glycosidic phosphate. Polysaccharides and an oligosaccharide were derived from the LPSs by various degradation procedures and studied by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, H-detected 1H,13C and 1H,31P HMQC experiments. The following related structures of the repeating units of the O-antigens were established (top: Proteus mirabilis O48; bottom: Proteus vulgaris O21) The O-specific polysaccharide of P. vulgaris O21 has the same structure as that of Hafnia allvei 744 and PCM 1194 [Petersson C., Jachymek, W., Klonowska, A., Lugowski, C., Niedziela, T. & Kenne, L. (1997) Eur. J. Biochem., 245, 668-675], except that the GlcN residue carries the N-acetyl rather than the N-[(R)-3-hydroxybutyryl] group. Serological investigations confirmed the close relatedness of the Proteus and Hafnia O-antigens studied.     

Structures of two O-polysaccharides of the lipopolysaccharide of Citrobacter youngae PCM 1538 (serogroup O9)

Mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Citrobacter youngae O9, strain PCM 1538 released a homopolysaccharide of 4-acetamido-4,6-dideoxy-D-mannose (D-Rha4NAc, N-acetyl-D-perosamine). Studies by methylation analysis and (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopy, using two-dimensional (1)H,(1)H COSY, TOCSY, NOESY and H-detected (1)H,(13)C HSQC experiments showed the presence of two structurally different polysaccharides consisting of the following units: -->)-alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-(1 --> and --> 3)-alpha-D-Rhap4NAc-(1 --> 3)-beta-D-Rhap4NAc-(1 -->.