Conserved Structural Features of Core Oligosaccharides among the Lipopolysaccharides of Respiratory Pathogens from the Genus Bordetella Analyzed Exclusively by NMR Spectroscopy.

Karolina Ucieklak,Tomasz Niedziela,Sabina Koj

doi:10.3390/ijms22031029

Abstract

Bacterial pathogens expose on the cell surface a variety of complex carbohydrate molecules. Gram-negative bacteria produce lipopolysaccharides, which are the main components of the outer membrane of bacterial envelopes and play a major role in host–pathogen interactions. B. pertussis, B. parapertussis, B. bronchiseptica, and B. holmesii, are mammalian respiratory pathogens, having substantial economic impact on human health and agriculture. B. pertussis is responsible for whooping cough (pertussis) and B. holmesii is the second pertussis etiological factor, but the current anti-pertussis vaccines do not provide cross-protection. The structural data on any given hypothetical carbohydrate antigen is a prerequisite for further analysis of structure-related activities and their interaction with hosts. 1H NMR spectra constitute fingerprints of the analyzed glycans and provide unique identity information. The concept of structure-reporter groups has now been augmented by 1H,13C-correlation spectra of the Bordetella oligosaccharides. The comparative analysis of Bordetellae oligosaccharides (OS) revealed that the hexasaccharide, comprising the α-GlcpN, α-GlcpA, 4,6-disubstituted-β-Glcp, 2,7-disubstituted-l-α-d-Hepp, 3,4-disubstituted-l-α-d-Hepp, and Kdo, constitute the least variable OS segment. This minimal common element in the structure of lipopolysaccharides of Bordetellae could be used to devise a universal cross-protective vaccine component against infections with various bacteria from the genus Bordetella.

Highlights

The genus Bordetella comprises a group of aerobic Gram-negative small coccobacilli.Most of these bacteria have adapted to live in a close relation with higher organisms
B. pertussis remains as an important human pathogen, responsible for whooping cough, a highly contagious illness affecting the respiratory tract, which is especially severe for newborns and young children [2,3]
An unequivocal discrimination between B. pertussis and B. holmesii and possible misdiagnosis can interfere with actual efficiency of the anti-pertussis vaccination

Summary

Introduction

The genus Bordetella comprises a group of aerobic Gram-negative small coccobacilli. Most of these bacteria have adapted to live in a close relation with higher organisms. The classical Bordetellae comprises B. pertussis, B. parapertussis, and B. bronchiseptica. B. pertussis remains as an important human pathogen, responsible for whooping cough (pertussis), a highly contagious illness affecting the respiratory tract, which is especially severe for newborns and young children [2,3]. B. holmesii, another human pathogen frequently isolated from immunocompromised patients, has been implicated in a less severe pertussis-like illness. An unequivocal discrimination between B. pertussis and B. holmesii and possible misdiagnosis can interfere with actual efficiency of the anti-pertussis vaccination

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion