Structure of the K10 capsular antigen from Escherichia coli O11:K10:H10, a polysaccharide containing 4,6-dideoxy-4-malonylamino-D-glucose

Extensive Diversity in Escherichia coli Group 3 Capsules Is Driven by Recombination and Plasmid Transfer from Multiple Species

Bacterial capsules provide protection against environmental challenges and host immunity. Historically, Escherichia coli K serotyping scheme, which relies on the hypervariable capsules, has identified around 80 K forms that fall into four distinct groups. Based on recent work by us and others, we predicted that E. coli capsular diversity is grossly underestimated. We exploited group 3 capsule gene clusters, the best genetically defined capsule group in E. coli, to analyze publicly available E. coli sequences for overlooked capsular diversity within the species. We report the discovery of seven novel group 3 clusters that fall into two distinct subgroups (3A and 3B). The majority of the 3B capsule clusters were found on plasmids, contrary to the defining feature of group 3 capsule genes localizing at the serA locus on the E. coli chromosome. Other new group 3 capsule clusters were derived from ancestral sequences through recombination events between shared genes found within the serotype variable central region 2. Intriguingly, flanking regions 1 and 3, known to be conserved areas among capsule clusters, showed considerable intra-subgroup variation in clusters from the 3B subgroup, containing genes of shared ancestry with other Enterobacteriaceae species. Variation of group 3 kps clusters within dominant E. coli lineages, including multidrug-resistant pathogenic lineages, further supports that E. coli capsules are undergoing rigorous change. Given the pivotal role of capsular polysaccharides in phage predation, our findings raise attention to the need of monitoring kps evolutionary dynamics in pathogenic E. coli in supporting phage therapy. IMPORTANCE Capsular polysaccharides protect pathogenic bacteria against environmental challenges, host immunity, and phage predations. The historical Escherichia coli K typing scheme, which relies on the hypervariable capsular polysaccharide, has identified around 80 different K forms that fall into four distinct groups. Taking advantage of the supposedly compact and genetically well-defined group 3 gene clusters, we analyzed published E. coli sequences to identify seven new gene clusters and revealed an unexpected capsular diversity. Genetic analysis revealed that group 3 gene clusters shared closely related serotype-specific region 2 and were diversified through recombination events and plasmid transfer between multiple Enterobacteriaceae species. Overall, capsular polysaccharides in E. coli are undergoing rigorous change. Given the pivotal role capsules play in phage interactions, this work highlighted the need to monitor the evolutionary dynamics of capsules in pathogenic E. coli for effective phage therapy.

Two extremely divergent sequence forms of the genes that define Escherichia coli group 3 capsules suggest a very long history since their common ancestor

Capsules are a critical virulence factor in many pathogenic Escherichia coli, of which groups 2 and 3 capsules are synthesised by the ABC transporter pathway. The well-studied forms are in group 2 and much of our knowledge of group 3 is inferred from our understanding of group 2. We analyse six group 3 gene clusters including representatives of K10, K11 and K96, and find unexpected diversity. Groups 2 and 3 both have gene clusters with terminal regions 1 and 3 containing mostly genes shared by all members of both groups, plus a central region 2, that in group 2 has the genes for synthesising the serotype-specific repeat unit. We find that in all but one case group 3 gene clusters include, in addition to serotype-specific genes, a previously unrecognised set of shared genes in region 2 that probably codes for an additional structural element. Also, the six shared genes in regions 1 and 3 of group 3 exist in two very different sequence forms. It appears that the E. coli ABC transporter capsules have a very long history, with more fundamental diversity present in group 3, but greater diversity in the exposed strongly antigenic serotype-specific component encoded by region 2.

Structure and serology of O-antigens as the basis for classification of Proteus strains

This review is devoted to structural and serological characteristics of the O-antigens (O-polysaccharides) of the lipopolysaccharides of various Proteus species, which provide the basis for classifying Proteus strains to Oserogroups. The antigenic relationships of Proteus strains within and beyond the genus as well as their O-antigenrelated bioactivities are also discussed.

Biosynthesis and Assembly of Capsular Polysaccharides inEscherichia coli

Capsules are protective structures on the surfaces of many bacteria. The remarkable structural diversity in capsular polysaccharides is illustrated by almost 80 capsular serotypes in Escherichia coli. Despite this variation, the range of strategies used for capsule biosynthesis and assembly is limited, and E. coli isolates provide critical prototypes for other bacterial species. Related pathways are also used for synthesis and export of other bacterial glycoconjugates and some enzymes/processes have counterparts in eukaryotes. In gram-negative bacteria, it is proposed that biosynthesis and translocation of capsular polysaccharides to the cell surface are temporally and spatially coupled by multiprotein complexes that span the cell envelope. These systems have an impact on both a general understanding of membrane trafficking in bacteria and on bacterial pathogenesis.

Genetic organization of the Escherichia coli K10 capsule gene cluster: identification and characterization of two conserved regions in group III capsule gene clusters encoding polysaccharide transport functions

Analysis of the Escherichia coli K10 capsule gene cluster identified two regions, regions 1 and 3, conserved between different group III capsule gene clusters. Region 1 encodes homologues of KpsD, KpsM, KpsT, and KpsE proteins, and region 3 encodes homologues of the KpsC and KpsS proteins. An rfaH mutation abolished K10 capsule production, suggesting that expression of the K10 capsule was regulated by RfaH in a manner analogous to group II capsule gene clusters. An IS3 element and a phiR73-like prophage, both of which may have played a role in the acquisition of group III capsule gene clusters, were detected flanking the K10 capsule genes.

Cloning and analysis of gene clusters for production of the Escherichia coli K10 and K54 antigens: identification of a new group of serA-linked capsule gene clusters

The polysaccharide capsules of Escherichia coli have been classified into three groups: I, II, and I/II. The third group, I/II, has been poorly studied and possesses characteristics of both group I and group II capsules. In this report, we describe the cloning of the K10 and K54 capsule gene clusters, two representatives of group I/II capsules. Probes taken from DNA flanking regions 1 and 3 of the group II capsule clusters hybridized to these group I/II clones, confirming that the group I/II capsule genes are flanked by the same DNA and are therefore located in the same serA-linked region of the chromosome as group II capsule gene clusters. Southern blotting showed that homologous sequences were present in both the K10 and K54 capsule gene clusters and in other group I/II strains. No homology was detected between these sequences and the chromosomal DNA of either a group I or a group II strain. Likewise, no homology was detected to the chromosomal DNA of either a K11 or K19 strain, both of which had previously been classified as group I/II strains. In the K10 and K54 capsule gene clusters, these conserved sequences flanked a serotype-specific region in a manner analogous to group II capsule gene organization. Complementation of mutations in the kpsE, kpsD, and kpsC genes in region 1 of the K5 capsule gene cluster by subclones of the K10 and K54 capsule gene clusters indicated that certain stages in the export of group II and I/II capsules may be conserved. In the light of the findings presented here, we suggest that the group I/II capsule gene clusters are sufficiently different from group II capsule gene clusters to justify their renaming as group III.