Conjugation of Meningococcal Lipooligosaccharides Through Their Non-Reducing Terminus Results in Improved Induction a Protective Immune Response

The present studies prove that conjugation of meningococcal lipooligosaccharides through their non-reducing terminus conserves their inner epitopes resulting in conjugates potent to induce a protective immune response. Four different oligosaccharides were obtained by specific degradations of the same L7 lipooligosaccharide (L7-LOS), and each was linked to tetanus toxoid by direct reductive amination. Two were truncated oligosaccharides with incomplete inner epitopes and were obtained by mild acid hydrolysis of lipooligosaccharide. The terminal galactose of one oligosaccharide was additionally enzymatically oxidized. These oligosaccharides were conjugated through a newly exposed terminal Kdo in reducing end or through oxidized galactose localized at non-reducing end of the core, respectively. The third was a full-length oligosaccharide obtained by O-deacylation of the L7-LOS and subsequent enzymatic removal of phosphate substituents from its lipid A moiety. The fourth one was also a full-length O-deacylated lipooligosaccharide, but treated with galactose oxidase. This allowed direct conjugation to tetanus toxoid through terminal 2-N-acyl-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranose or through oxidized galactose, respectively. Comparison of the immune performance of four conjugates in mice revealed, that while each was able to induce significant level of L7-LOS-specific IgG antibody, the conjugates made with the full-length saccharides were able to induce antibodies with increased bactericidal activity against homologous meningococci. Only full-length oligosaccharides were good inhibitors of the binding of L7-LOS to the bactericidal antiserum. Moreover, induction of the significant level of the L7-LOS-specific antibody by full-length lipooligosaccharide conjugated from non-reducing end, provided also the direct evidence that internal core epitopes are fully responsible for the immunorecognition and immunoreactivity.

Re-classification within the serogroups O3 and O8 of Citrobacter strains

BACKGROUND

Citrobacter strains are opportunistic pathogens often responsible for serious enteric as well as extra-intestinal diseases, and therefore the O-antigenic scheme, still in use in diagnostic identification, should be set for proper serotyping. The structures of more than 30 different Citrobacter O-antigens (O-polysaccharide chains of the lipopolysaccharides) of 43 Citrobacter O-serogroups have been elucidated so far. However, relationships between strains in several heterogeneous serogroups still need to be clarified by immunochemical studies. These include complex serogroups O3 and O8, represented by 20 and 7 strains, respectively, which are the subject of the present work. Earlier, the O-polysaccharide structures have been determined for Citrobacter O3 strain Be35/57 (PCM 1508) and Citrobacter O8 strain Be64/57 (PCM 1536).

RESULTS

Serological studies (immunoblotting) carried out on Citrobacter lipopolysaccharides from different strains ascribed to serogroups O3 and O8 showed that each of these serogroups should be divided into non-cross-reacting subgroups. Based on the results of chemical analyses and ¹H and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy the structure of Citrobacter O-antigens from strains PCM 1504 (O6) and PCM 1573 (O2) have been established. Chemical data combined with serological analyses showed that several Citrobacter strains should be reclassified into other serogroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunochemical studies carried out on Citrobacter LPS, described in this paper, showed the expediency of reclassification of: 1) strains PCM 1504 and PCM 1573 from serogroups O6 and O2 to serogroups O3 and O8, respectively, 2) strains PCM 1503 and PCM 1505 from serogroups O3 and O8 to new serogroups O3a and O8a, respectively.

Major structural proteins of type 1 and type 3 Klebsiella fimbriae are effective protein carriers and immunogens in conjugates as revealed from their immunochemical characterization

Fimbriae are filamentous structures present on the cell surface of many bacteria, including genus Klebsiella. The use of fimbriae as protein carriers in conjugates may allow to formulate effective multivalent vaccines and suitable diagnostics. However, the evidences have been reported that fimbriae may enhance the inflammatory response. This prompted us to examine the degree of cytokine induction by the type 1 and type 3 Klebsiella fimbriae and their conjugates. Fimbriae were assessed as carrier proteins for Escherichia coli K12 endotoxin core oligosaccharide. MALDI-MS revealed the molecular mass of fimbrial monomer major protein, which was 15,847 Da for type 1 and 18,574 Da for type 3 fimbriae of Klebsiella. These two types of fimbriae were moderate inductors of IL-6 and interferon and almost inactive with regard to the stimulation of TNF when tested in human whole blood assay. Coupling of fimbriae with E. coli K12 core oligosaccharide gave immunogenic conjugates with respect to a saccharide ligand and protein carrier, although only 10% of the pilin monomers possessed the attached oligosaccharide. Rabbit antiserum reacted with a broad spectrum of lipopolysaccharides, as measured by ELISA and immunoblotting assays. The antibodies against glycoconjugates were bactericidal for the wild, S-type bacteria of some species. Regarding the induction of cytokines by conjugates only the TNF level was noticeably elevated. These results prompt for the practical use of fimbriae, as effective protein carriers for conjugates to obtain broad-spectrum antisera for diagnostic applications.

Structure of the O-polysaccharide of Citrobacter youngae O1 containing an α-d-ribofuranosyl group

The lipopolysaccharide of Citrobacter youngae O1, strain PCM 1492 was degraded with acid or alkali under mild conditions, and the resultant polysaccharide was isolated by GPC and studied by sugar and methylation analyses and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, NOESY and 1H, 13C HSQC experiments. The following structure of the branched tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the O-polysaccharide was established: [structure: see text] where substitution with the alpha-D-Ribf group is nonstoichiometric. This group occurs rarely in bacterial polysaccharides and is easily cleaved under mild acidic conditions. Studies with polyclonal rabbit antisera against whole cells of C. youngae PCM 1492 and PCM 1506 showed the serological identity of the lipopolysaccharides of C. youngae PCM 1492, PCM 1493 and PCM 1506, which are classified in serogroup O1.

[Glycine as an inherent component of bacterial lipopolysaccharides]

The amino-acylation of bacterial polysaccharide antigens and the biological role of this phenomenon are poorly understood, although it might be relevant in the processes of the infection and immunity. Due to the lability of ester linked substituents on glyco-conjugate antigens, usually such groups escaped detection during routine structural investigation. Among the only few data available, these on the occurrence of glycine in endotoxic lipopolysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria are well documented. This work summarises these data on glycine as an integral constituent of bacterial LPS and also on some other amino acid esters in teichoic acids and phosphatidylglycerol of Gram-positive bacteria. The possible functions are discussed of such noncarbohydrate ester linked substituents in bacterial antigens.

[Analysis of fatty acids from lipopolysaccharides of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron and Bacteroides fragilis]

The aim of this study was to determine and to compare fatty acids occurring in lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from B. thetaiotaomicron and B. fragilis strains of different origin. Lipopolysaccharides of three B. thetaiotaomicron strains and four B. fragilis strains were isolated by phenol-water extraction according to the procedure of Westphal and Jann (1965). Water-phase LPS fractions were then treated with nucleases and purified by ultracentrifugation as described by Gmeiner (1975). Fatty acid methyl esters, obtained by methanolysis of LPS, were analysed in gas-liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry (GLC-MS). Trimethylsilylated hydroxyl groups of fatty acid methyl esters were identified with GLC-MS using a method of selective ion monitoring (SIM). Lipopolysaccharides of B. thetaiotaomicron and B. fragilis strains contained long-chain (15-18 carbon atoms) fatty acids. The broad spectrum of simple long-chain and branched-chain fatty acids as well as 3-hydroxy fatty acids were detected. The main fatty acid of analyzed bacterial species was 3-hydroxy-hexadecanoic acid (3OH C16:0). Several 3-hydroxy fatty acids were detected in LPS of examined strains. Fatty acids occurring in LPS of B. thetaiotaomicron and B. fragilis strains appeared to be qualitatively similar. Quantitative differences in fatty acids composition of lipopolysaccharides isolated from strains of different origin were observed.

Antigenic properties of LPS extracted from Bacteroides fragilis enterotoxin producing strains

Antigenic properties of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) strains isolated in Poland were compared with reference strains. The agglutination and passive hemagglutination, SDS-PAGE analysis and immunoblotting tests as well as analyses of sugars and fatty acids were performed with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) preparations obtained from water-phase of phenol-water extracts. Some differences in serological reactivity between ETBF antigens were observed. The antigen of the NTBF (nonenterotoxigenic) reference strain IPL E-323 expressed weak cross-reactivity with sera against whole cells of ETBF strains in serological tests. There were some differences observed between ETBF and NTBF strains in fatty acids and sugar composition. The LPS preparations probably possess a common core structure and the O-specific polysaccharides of variable chain length.

Structural heterogeneity of the sialic-acid-containing oligosaccharides from the lipopolysaccharide of Hafnia alvei strain 2 as detected by FABMS studies

The structure of four oligosaccharide fractions from the Hafnia alvei strain 2 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) have been assigned by FABMS. This approach corroborates data previously established by NMR spectroscopy for the major oligosaccharides in these fractions [A. Gamian, E. Romanowska, U. Dabrowski, J. Dabrowski, Biochemistry 30 (1991) 5032-5038; E. Katzenellenbogen, A. Gamian, E. Romanowska, U. Dabrowski, J. Dabrowski, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 194 (1993) 1058-1064; N. Ravenscroft, A. Gamian, E. Romanowska, Eur. J. Biochem. 227 (1995) 889-896]. In addition, the MS/MS with B/E linked scan technique allowed the detection of an additional oligosaccharide with the structure: [formula: see text] lacking the branched O-6 linked glucopyranose residue at the 3-linked Gal unit, which indicates a structural heterogeneity for the major oligosaccharide fraction.

Immunochemical characterization of lipopolysaccharide from glucose-nonfermenting gram-negative clinical bacterial isolate

A glucose-nonfermenting Gram-negative bacterial strain isolated from bronchofiberoscope used for examination of the patients suffering from pulmonary diseases was subjected to phenol-water extraction. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from the water and the phenol phase differed in fatty acid composition. Both contained xylose, glucose, glucosamine and components typical for LPS, namely heptose, 3-deoxyoctulosonic acid (Kdo) and 3-hydroxymyristic acid. The presence of sphingosine in all LPS preparations classifies the strain to the genus Sphingomonas.

Immunochemical characterization of lipopolysaccharide from glucose-nonfermenting gram-negative clinical bacterial isolate

A glucose-nonfermenting Gram-negative bacterial strain isolated from bronchofiberoscope used for examination of the patients suffering from pulmonary diseases was subjected to phenol-water extraction. Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from the water and the phenol phase differed in fatty acid composition. Both contained xylose, glucose, glucosamine and components typical for LPS, namely heptose, 3-deoxyoctulosonic acid (Kdo) and 3-hydroxymyristic acid. The presence of sphingosine in all LPS preparations classifies the strain to the genus Sphingomonas.

[Studies of a glycyl component of lipopolysaccharides]

The aminoacyl analysis of endotoxic lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from several bacteria revealed essential amounts of glycine, among the inherent LPS components. Glycine as a single amino acid was found only in a core part of LPS. The results indicate that amino acid is an integral constituent of core oligosaccharide in lipopolysaccharide.

[Structural and serologic characteristics of O-specific polysaccharides of Hafnia alvei PCM 1185 and 1199]

This work describes results of studies of O-specific oligosaccharide repeating units from lipopolysaccharides of two related Hafnia alvei serotypes. The linkage between O-antigen and the core region in PCM 1199 LPS has been also established. The O-acetyl residues present in the polysaccharides are involved in formation of epitopes.

Structure of the Escherichia coli O24 and O56 O-specific sialic-acid-containing polysaccharides and linkage of these structures to the core region in lipopolysaccharides

The lipopolysaccharides from Escherichia coli O24 and O56 could be separated into higher-molecular-mass and lower-molecular-mass fractions. Mild acid hydrolysis of lipopolysaccharides of both serotypes released an O-specific polysaccharide and a tetrasaccharide repeating unit. Oligomers of the repeating unit, the core and the oligosaccharide that contains a fragment of the repeating unit linked to the core region were also obtained according to hydrolysis conditions. On the basis of sugar and methylation analyses, Smith degradation, fast-atom-bombardment mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopy of the hydrolysis products, the biological repeating units of the O-specific polysaccharides were shown to be the following tetrasaccharides: [formula: see text] The structures differ from the structures proposed previously by Kogan et al. [Kogan, G., Shashkov, A. S., Jann, B. & Jann, K. (1993) Carbohydr. Res. 238, 261-270; Kogan, G., Jann, B. & Jann, K. (1993) Carbohydr. Res. 238, 335-338]. The O-specific repeating unit in E. coli O24 lipopolysaccharide is linked to O6 of the terminal D-galactose in the core region, whereas in O56 LPS the repeating unit is linked to O4 of a subterminal D-glucose residue in an R2 type core.