Structure of the O10 antigen of Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas) maltophilia

Synthesis of the trisaccharide repeating unit of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia O6 antigen through step-wise and one-pot approaches

Synthetic conjugate vaccines are an important area of research for the prevention and occurrence of diseases caused by Gram-negative bacteria. For the development of such vaccines, access to the pure and homogeneous oligosaccharide fragments of the bacterial cell surface polysaccharides are necessary. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is a typical opportunistic Gram-negative bacteria that causes severe pulmonary and other infections; often in hospitalized patients. With the emergence of multidrug resistant strains and increased virulence, new therapeutic strategies are needed to combat the threat. Herein, we report the syntheses of the trisaccharide repeating unit of S. maltophilia O6 antigen through stepwise and one-pot assemblies of the trisaccharide. The target trisaccharide was appended with a 2-aminoethyl linker that could provide the opportunity for conjugation to carrier proteins for the synthesis of vaccine candidates.

Structures of the O4 and O18 antigens of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia: a case of enantiomeric repeating units

The O-specific side-chain polymers of lipopolysaccharides from the reference strains for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia serogroups 04 and O18 are both xylosylated rhamnans. In the 04 polymer, both sugar components are the D isomers, whereas the O18 polymer contains only the L isomers. By means of NMR spectroscopy, methylation analysis and Smith degradation, the repeating unit of the 04 polymer was identified as a doubly-branched pentasaccharide of the structure shown below. The O18 polymer is based on the enantiomeric pentasaccharide, but the xylosyl substituent at the 4-position is apparently absent from some units. The polymers closely resemble the O antigens found in Xanthomonas campestris pathovars. [structure: see text]

Structures of the O21 and O25 antigens of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

The O-specific side-chain polymers from Stenotrophomonas maltophilia serogroups O21 and O25 were isolated from the lipopolysaccharides of the reference strains. The O21 polymer contained D-arabinose, 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-glucose and 2-amino-2-deoxy-D-galactose in equal proportions. Methylation analysis and NMR spectroscopy showed that the polysaccharide is based on a branched trisaccharide repeating unit of the structure shown below. The O25 polymer is linear with a disaccharide repeating unit identical to that forming the backbone of the O21 polymer.

Microbiological and clinical aspects of infection associated with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

The gram-negative bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is increasingly recognized as an important cause of nosocomial infection. Infection occurs principally, but not exclusively, in debilitated and immunosuppressed individuals. Management of S. maltophilia-associated infection is problematic because many strains of the bacterium manifest resistance to multiple antibiotics. These difficulties are compounded by methodological problems in in vitro susceptibility testing for which there are, as yet, no formal guidelines. Despite its acknowledged importance as a nosocomial pathogen, little is known of the epidemiology of S. maltophilia, and although it is considered an environmental bacterium, its sources and reservoirs are often not readily apparent. Molecular typing systems may contribute to our knowledge of the epidemiology of S. maltophilia infection, thus allowing the development of strategies to interrupt the transmission of the bacterium in the hospital setting. Even less is known of pathogenic mechanisms and putative virulence factors involved in the natural history of S. maltophilia infection and this, coupled with difficulties in distinguishing colonization from true infection, has fostered the view that the bacterium is essentially nonpathogenic. This article aims to review the current taxonomic status of S. maltophilia, and it discusses the laboratory identification of the bacterium. The epidemiology of the organism is considered with particular reference to nosocomial outbreaks, several of which have been investigated by molecular typing techniques. Risk factors for acquisition of the bacterium are also reviewed, and the ever-expanding spectrum of clinical syndromes associated with S. maltophilia is surveyed. Antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, pitfalls in in vitro susceptibility testing, and therapy of S. maltophilia infections are also discussed.

Structure of the O2 antigen of Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas or Pseudomonas) maltophilia

An O antigenic polymer containing L-rhamnose, D-mannose, and L-xylose was isolated from the lipopolysaccharide present in the reference strain for Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas or Pseudomonas) maltophilia serogroup O2, by mild acid hydrolysis and gel-permeation chromatography. By means of NMR spectroscopy and chemical degradations, the polysaccharide was found to be based on a branched trisaccharide repeating-unit of the structure shown. [formula: see text].

High-field NMR as a technique for the determination of polysaccharide structures

NMR spectroscopy has played a developing role in the study of polysaccharide structures for over 30 years. Many new bacterial polysaccharide repeat unit structures have recently been published as a result of the application of modern NMR techniques. NMR can also be used to elucidate the structures of both regular and heterogeneous polysaccharides from fungal and plant sources, as well as complex glycosaminoglycans of animal origin. In addition to covalent structure, conformation and dynamics of polysaccharides are susceptible to NMR analysis, both in solution and in the solid state. Improvements in NMR technology with potential applications to polysaccharide studies hold promise for the future.

Structure of the O20 antigen of Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas or Pseudomonas) maltophilia

The O-antigen polymer recovered from the reference strain for Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas or Pseudomonas) maltophilia serogroup O20, by mild acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide, was found to contain D-rhamnose and D-mannose. By means of chemical degradations and NMR studies, the repeating-unit of the polymer was deduced to be a linear tetrasaccharide with the structure shown. -->2)-alpha-D-Manp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Rhap-(1-->2)-alpha-D-Rh ap-(1-->2)-alpha-D- Rhap-(1-->.

Structure of the O3 antigen of Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas or Pseudomonas) maltophilia

The O antigen isolated from the lipopolysaccharide of a strain of Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas or Pseudomonas) maltophilia serogroup O3 was found to contain 4-acetamido-4,6-dideoxy-D-galactose, D-fucose, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. By means of chemical degradations and NMR spectroscopy the repeating unit of the O-specific polymer was determined to be a branched trisaccharide repeating-unit of the structure shown.

Structure of the O6 antigen of Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas or Pseudomonas) maltophilia

A polysaccharide containing D-xylose, L-rhamnose, and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine was released on mild acid hydrolysis of the lipopolysaccharide extracted from defatted cell walls of Stenotrophomonas (Xanthomonas or Pseudomonas) maltophilia strain 557, the reference strain for serotype O6. By means of NMR spectroscopy and chemical degradations, the repeating unit of the polymer was identified as a branched trisaccharide with the structure shown. [formula: see text]