Structure of the lipopolysaccharide O-chain of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:5,27

The cellular lipopolysaccharide produced by Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:5,27 was of the S-type and composed of an antigenic O-chain polysaccharide linked through a core oligosaccharide region, which in turn was linked through 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulonosyl units to a lipid A moiety. The O-chain polysaccharide was composed of equal molar amounts of L-rhamnose and D-xylulose. By partial hydrolysis, periodate oxidation, methylation, specific optical rotation, and 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance studies, the structure of the O-chain was established as being a linear backbone of alternating 1,3-linked alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl and beta-L-rhamnopyranosyl units, to which 2,2-linked beta-D-threo-pent-2-ulofuranoside (D-xylulofuranoside) units were present on every L-rhamnopyranosyl residue, as shown below. (Formula: see text)     

Structural studies of the O-chain of the phenol-phase soluble lipopolysaccharide from Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2

The phenol-phase soluble cellular lipopolysaccharide that was isolated by the phenol-water extraction from Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 was shown to be of the S type by sodium dodecyl sulfate--polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, hydrolysis, methylation, specific degradations, and both one- and two-dimensional 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies. It could be cleaved to yield a lipid A and an O-chain polysaccharide. This O-polysaccharide was identified as a high molecular weight unbranched linear polymer of a pentasaccharide repeating unit having the structure: (Formula: see text).     

Structure of the O-chain polysaccharide of the phenol-phase soluble lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli 0:157:H7

The phenol-phase soluble lipopolysaccharide isolated from Escherichia coli 0:157 by the hot phenol-water extraction procedure was shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, periodate oxidation, methylation, and 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance studies to be an unbranched linear polysaccharide with a tetrasaccharide repeating unit having the structure: (formula; see text) The serological cross-reactivity of E. coli 0:157 with Brucella abortus, Yersinia enterocolitica (serotype 0:9), group N Salmonella, and some other E. coli species can be related immunochemically to the presence of 1,2-glycosylated N-acylated 4-amino-4, 6-dideoxy-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl residues in the O-chains of their respective lipopolysaccharides.     

A new branched-chain monosaccharide from the Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:4.32 lipopolysaccharide

A component of the Yersinia enterocolitica O:4,32 lipopolysaccharide has been shown to be a second representative of the new class of monosaccharides and possess the structure of 3,6-dideoxy-4C-(1-hydroxyethyl)-D-xylo-hexose (yersiniose).     

The structure of O-specific polysaccharide from Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:6.31 lipopolysaccharide

The serologically active O-specific polysaccharide has been isolated from the lipopolysaccharide of Yersinia enterocolitica, serovar O: 6.31. Using methylation, partial acid hydrolysis and 13C NMR spectroscopy, the main structural moiety of the O-specific polysaccharide is shown to be the following disaccharide repeating unit: (Formula: see text).     

Structural identification of the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen produced by Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:28.

The structure of the O-antigenic polysaccharide (O-PS) component of the lipopolysaccharide produced by Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:28 has been elucidated. From chemical methods involving glycose analysis, periodate oxidation, methylation and the use of one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy, the O-PS was found to be a polymer of repeating branched hexasaccharide units composed of L-rhamnose (four parts), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (one part), and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galacturonic acid (one part) having the following structure:     

A novel locus of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 involved in lipopolysaccharide outer core biosynthesis

Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3 strain 6471/76-c (YeO3-c) was sensitive to bacteriophage φR1-37 when grown at 37°C but not when grown at 22°C because of steric hindrance by abundant lipopolysaccharide (LPS) O-side chain (O-antigen) expressed at 22°C. The transposon library of YeO3-c was grown at 37°C and screened for phage φR1-37-resistant transposon insertion mutants. Three types of mutant were isolated: (i) phage receptor mutants expressing O-antigen (LPS-smooth), (ii) phage receptor mutants not expressing O-antigen (LPS-rough), and (iii) LPS-smooth mutants with the phage receptor constitutively sterically blocked. Mutant type (i) was characterized in detail; the transposon insertion inactivates an operon, named the trs operon. The main findings based on this mutant are: (i) the trs operon is involved in the biosynthesis of the LPS outer core in YeO3-c; the nucleotide sequence of the trs operon revealed eight novel genes showing similarity to known polysaccharide biosynthetic genes of various Gram-negative bacteria as well as to capsule biosynthesis genes of Staphylococcus aureus ; (ii) the biosynthesis of the core of YeO3-c involves at least two genetic loci; (iii) the trs operon is required for the biosynthesis of the bacteriophage φR1-37 receptor structures; (iv) the homopolymeric O-antigen of YeO3-c is ligated to the inner core in Y. enterocolitica O:3; (v) the trs operon is located between the adk—hemH and galE—gsk gene pairs in the Y. enterocolitica chromosome; and (vi) the phage φR1-37 receptor is present in many but not in all Y. enterocolitica serotypes. The results also allow us to speculate that the trs operon is a relic of the ancestral rfb region of Y. enterocolitica O:3 carrying genes indispensable for the completion of the core polysaccharide biosynthesis.     

Isolation and structural characterization of an R-form lipopolysaccharide from Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:8.

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of strain 8081-c-R2, a spontaneous R-mutant of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:8, was isolated using extraction with phenol/chloroform/light petroleum. Its compositional analysis indicated the presence of D-GlcN, D-Glc, L-glycero-D-manno- and D-glycero-D-manno-heptose, 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (Kdo) and phosphate. From deacylated LPS obtained after successive treatment with hydrazine and potassium hydroxide, three oligosaccharides (1-3) were isolated using high-performance anion-exchange chromatography, the structures of which were determined by compositional analysis and one- and two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy as [carbohydrate structure see text] in which all sugars are pyranoses, and R and R' represent beta-D-Glc (in 1 and 2) and beta-D-GlcN (in 1 only), respectively. D-alpha-D-Hep is D-glycero-alpha-D-manno-heptose, L-alpha-D-Hep is L-glycero-alpha-D-manno-heptose, Kdo is 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid, and P is phosphate. The liberated lipid A was analyzed by compositional analyses and MALDI-TOF MS. Its beta-D-GlcN4P-(1-->6)-alpha-D-GlcN-1-->P backbone is mainly tetra-acylated with two amide- and one ester-linked (at O3 of the reducing GlcN) (R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid residues, and one tetradecanoic acid that is attached to the 3-OH group of the amide-linked (R)-3-hydroxytetradecanoic acid of the nonreducing GlcN. Additionally, small amounts of tri- and hexa-acylated lipid A species occur.     

Structure of the O-chain of the lipopolysaccharide of Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1

By phenol-water extraction an aqueous-phase soluble cellular lipopolysaccharide was isolated from Haemophilus pleuro-pneumoniae serotype 1. It was shown by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, hydrolysis, methylation, and both one- and two-dimensional 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies to be an S-type lipopolysaccharide, which could be cleaved to yield a lipid A and an O-chain polysaccharide identified as a high molecular weight branched polymer of a tetrasaccharide repeating unit having the structure: (Formula: see text).     

Characterization and biological role of the O-polysaccharide gene cluster of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:9

Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:9 is a gram-negative enteropathogen that infects animals and humans. The role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in Y. enterocolitica O:9 pathogenesis, however, remains unclear. The O:9 LPS consists of lipid A to which is linked the inner core oligosaccharide, serving as an attachment site for both the outer core (OC) hexasaccharide and the O-polysaccharide (OPS; a homopolymer of N-formylperosamine). In this work, we cloned the OPS gene cluster of O:9 and identified 12 genes organized into four operons upstream of the gnd gene. Ten genes were predicted to encode glycosyltransferases, the ATP-binding cassette polysaccharide translocators, or enzymes required for the biosynthesis of GDP-N-formylperosamine. The two remaining genes within the OPS gene cluster, galF and galU, were not ascribed a clear function in OPS biosynthesis; however, the latter gene appeared to be essential for O:9. The biological functions of O:9 OPS and OC were studied using isogenic mutants lacking one or both of these LPS parts. We showed that OPS and OC confer resistance to human complement and polymyxin B; the OPS effect on polymyxin B resistance could be observed only in the absence of OC.     

A real-time PCR assay for the specific identification of serotype O:9 of Yersinia enterocolitica

A real-time PCR assay was developed based on a 181-bp fragment of the recently cloned per gene, including an internal amplification control (124 bp), for the detection of Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 (Ye O:9). The validation included 48 Ye O:9, 33 Y. enterocolitica non-O:9 and 35 other closely-related bacterial strains, containing per gene homologies. The assay was specific for the Ye O:9 tested, the detection limit was 1-10 genome copies of purified DNA and amplification efficiency was between 90.5-103%, indicating a linear regression throughout the detection window.     

Structure of the O-chain of the lipopolysaccharide of Pasteurella haemolytica serotype T3

Cell-wall lipopolysaccharide isolated from Pasteurella haemolytica serotype T3 using the phenol-water extraction procedure was shown to be an S type lipopolysaccharide by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Hydrolysis with mild acid afforded a lipid-free, antigenic O-chain polysaccharide. On the basis of one- and two-dimensional 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies, in conjunction with microanalytical chemical methods, the O-polysaccharide was determined to be a linear polymer of a disaccharide repeating unit having the structure. [----3)-beta-D-G1cpNAc-(1----4)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1----]n     

Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide chain of the lipopolysaccharide from Yersinia intermedia serotype O:4.33

O-specific polysaccharide has been isolated on autohydrolysis of lipopolysaccharide from Yersinia intermedia O: 4.33 (strain 1476) and shown to consist of the yersiniose B (3.6-dideoxy-4-C-(1-hydroxyethyl)-xylo-hexose) and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose residues in a molar ratio of 1 : 2. Acid hydrolysis, methylation. solvolysis with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride. and 13C-NMR studies indicate the polysaccharide to be composed of trisaccharide repeating units of the following structure: (Formula: see text).     

Structural characterization of the antigenic O-chain of the lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli serotype O65

The antigenic O-polysaccharide moiety of the lipopolysaccharide produced by Escherichia coli serotype O65 was investigated by composition, methylation, base hydrolysis, periodate oxidation, mass spectrometric methods, and by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy. The O-polysaccharide had [alpha]D + 108 degrees (water) and is a high-molecular-weight unbranched linear polymer of repeating pentasaccharide units composed of 1:1:1:1:1 D-galacturonic acid (D-GalA), D-galacturonamide (D-GalANH2), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (D-GlcNAc), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose (D-GalNAc), and 3-acetamido-3,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (D-Qui3NAc), and has the following structure: [formula: see text]     

Chromosome-mediated resistance of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O9 to intracellular killing by mouse peritoneal macrophages

Abstract The survival of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O9 within mouse peritoneal macrophages was investigated. To evaluate the role of the virulence plasmid in the resistance to intracellular killing, an isogenic pair of virulent (plasmid-bearing) and avirulent (plasmid-less) O9 strains was used. The virulent strain was able to express plasmid-encoded outer membrane proteins and to colonize the Peyer's patches of orally infected mice. When mice were infected intraperitoneally, both strains were recovered at similar rates and over the same time from the peritoneal cavity. When in vitro assays were performed, both strains showed similar resistance to intracellular killing by monolayers of resident and inflammatory peritoneal macrophages. Previous opsonization of bacteria did not modify their survival within macrophage monolayers. We concluded that serotype O9 strains display a chromosome-mediated resistance to intracellular killing by mouse peritoneal macrophages. Moreover, macrophage resistance does not seem to be of importance for virulence of serotype O9 strains in mice.     

Molecular and chemical characterization of the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen and its role in the virulence of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:8

The Y. enterocolitica O:8 (YeO8) O-antigen repeat units consist of five sugar residues: N-acetyl- d -galactosamine (GalNAc), d -galactose (Gal), d -mannose (Man), l -fucose (Fuc), and 6-deoxy- d -gulose (6d-Gul). The nucleotide sequence of the O-antigen gene cluster of the YeO8 strain 8081-c was determined. Altogether, 18 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified and shown to be essential for O-antigen biosynthesis. We previously characterized the 3'-end of the O-antigen gene cluster and identified four genes: two for GDP-Man biosynthesis, one for UDP-Gal biosynthesis, and one for O-antigen polymerase. Based on sequence similarity, Tn 5 -insertion phenotypes and chemical analysis, the 14 new genes were assigned the following functions: four genes are involved in the biosynthesis of CDP-6d-Gul and two in GDP-Fuc biosynthesis. Five gene products were assigned sugar transferase functions and one gene product was similar to Wzx, the O-antigen flippase. Two genes remained unassigned. By genetic complementation we also showed that YeO8 O-antigen biosynthesis was dependent on N-acetyl-glucosaminyl:undecaprenylphosphate transferase (GlcNAc transferase), the WecA (formerly known as Rfe) protein. Data obtained from chemical-composition analysis suggest that in addition to being GlcNAc transferase, WecA may also function as a GalNAc transferase. Using a restriction-deficient derivative of Y. enterocolitica O:8 strain 8081, a rough mutant, designated 8081-R2, was isolated. 8081-R2 was complemented in trans with a cloned O-antigen gene cluster restoring surface O-antigen expression. The virulence of the wild-type strain and that of the complemented strain were significantly higher (approx. 100-fold) than that of the rough mutant in an orally infected mouse model, showing that YeO8 O-antigen is a virulence factor.     

Apolipoprotein A-I exerts bactericidal activity against Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:3

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), the main protein component of high density lipoprotein (HDL), is well recognized for its antiatherogenic, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory properties. Here, we report a novel role for apoA-I as a host defense molecule that contributes to the complement-mediated killing of an important gastrointestinal pathogen, Gram-negative bacterium Yersinia enterocolitica. We specifically show that the C-terminal domain of apoA-I is the effector site providing the bactericidal activity. Although the presence of the lipopolysaccharide O-antigen on the bacterial surface is absolutely required for apoA-I to kill the bacteria, apoA-I does not interact with the bacteria directly. To the contrary, exposure of the bacteria by serum proteins triggers apoA-I deposition on the bacterial surface. As our data show that both purified lipid-free and HDL-associated apoA-I displays anti-bacterial potential, apoA-I mimetic peptides may be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of certain Gram-negative infections.     

Inhibition of Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O3 by natural microflora of pork

Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O3 did not grow but did survive in inoculated raw ground pork kept at 6 and 25 degrees C. The antagonistic effect of microbial flora, especially Hafnia alvei and environmental Yersinia organisms, on the growth of Y. enterocolitica serotype O3 in raw ground pork was evident. These results were supported by evidence of the inhibition of growth of Y. enterocolitica serotype O3 by Enterobacteriaceae, especially H. alvei and environmental Yersinia organisms, in mixed cultures at 6 and 25 degrees C. We suggest that naturally contaminated pork is a source of human infection, since Y. enterocolitica serotype O3 was capable of surviving in the raw pork for a long time.     

The structure of O-specific polysaccharide of Yersinia frederiksenii serotype O:16,29 lipopolysaccharide

A branched chain octose, 3,6-dideoxy-4-C-(L-glycero-1'-hydroxyethyl)-D-xylo- hexose, was isolated from the lipopolysaccharide of Yersinia frederiksenii, serovar O: 16.29 and identified as yersiniose A from Y. pseudotuberculosis, serovar VI. Mild hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide with acetic acid afforded a rhamnan. Structural features of the trisaccharide repeating unit were elucidated on the basic of 13C NMR spectral data, methylation studies and periodate oxidation. Using these data as well as data on sugar composition and methylation studies of the lipopolysaccharide, the following structural pattern of the repeating unit of O-specific polysaccharide was proposed: (formula; see text)