Determination of saccharide content in pneumococcal polysaccharides and conjugate vaccines by GC-MSD

Comprehensive characterization of bacterial glycoconjugate vaccines by liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry

Bacterial pathogens can cause a broad range of infections with detrimental effects on health. Vaccine development is essential as multi-drug resistance in bacterial infections is a rising concern. Recombinantly produced proteins carrying O-antigen glycosylation are promising glycoconjugate vaccine candidates to prevent bacterial infections. However, methods for their comprehensive structural characterization are lacking. Here, we present a bottom-up approach for their site-specific characterization, detecting N-glycopeptides by nano reversed-phase liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (RP-LC-MS). Glycopeptide analyses revealed information on partial site-occupancy and site-specific glycosylation heterogeneity and helped corroborate the polysaccharide structures and their modifications. Bottom-up analysis was complemented by intact glycoprotein analysis using nano RP-LC-MS allowing the fast visualization of the polysaccharide distribution in the intact glycoconjugate. At the glycopeptide level, the model glycoconjugates analyzed showed different repeat unit (RU) distributions that spanned from 1 to 21 RUs attached to each of the different glycosylation sites. Interestingly, the intact glycoprotein analysis displayed a RU distribution ranging from 1 to 28 RUs, showing the predominant species when the different glycopeptide distributions are combined in the intact glycoconjugate. The complete workflow based on LC-MS measurements allows detailed and comprehensive analysis of the glycosylation state of glycoconjugate vaccines.

Evaluation of GC-MS for identification and characterization of pneumococcal serotype 24A, 24B, and 24F capsular polysaccharide

Analysis of pneumococcal polysaccharides (PnPs) has been an arduous task, especially in similar serotypes. Pneumococci invades the host immune response by modulating capsule structure with small genetic changes making them indistinguishable from similar serotypes by conventional modes of analysis. The new serotype 24F causing invasive pneumococcal-resistant infection is an analytical challenge for its analysis as related serotypes 24A and 24B Ps share a common backbone. The difference in the branched chain which contains arabinitol and ribitol in 24F and 24B respectively are stereoisomers making their identification even more challenging. The composition analysis by GC-MS revealed distinct peaks for arabinitol in 24F and 24A Ps and ribitol in Pn 24B serotype polysaccharide. The mass spectral analysis confirmed their identification along with a heterologous cross-reactivity which confirmed anti-Pn-24F mAb reactive to Pn 24B than Pn 24A. The quantitative analysis of pneumococcal 24A, 24B and 24F using GC-MS showed sensitive analysis over the concentration range 3.125-200 μg/mL with regression coefficient >0.99 making ideal modality for the characterization, identification, and quantitation of pneumococcal 24A, 24B and 24F similar serotypes.

Characterization of pneumococcal serotype 7F in vaccine conjugation

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a highly invasive bacterial pathogen that can cause a range of illnesses. Pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides (CPS) are the main virulence factors that causes invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Pneumococcal CPS serotype 7F along with a few other serotypes is more invasive and likely to cause IPD. Therefore, 7F is a target for pneumococcal vaccine development, and is included in the two recently approved multi-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccines, i.e. VAXNEUVANCE and PREVNAR 20.To support process and development of our 15-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccine (PCV15), chromatographic methods have been developed for 7F polysaccharide and conjugate characterization. A size-exclusion chromatography (SEC) method with UV, light scattering and refractive index detections was employed for concentration, size and conformation analysis. A reversed-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatography (RP-UPLC) method was used for analysis of conjugate monosaccharide composition and degree of conjugation. The collective information obtained by these chromatographic analysis provided insights into the pneumococcal conjugate and conjugation process.

Evaluation of structural modification induced activation of pneumococcal polysaccharide by GC-MS for the conjugate vaccine

Polysaccharide (Ps) activation evaluation is an imperative quality attribute in a conjugate vaccine. Pneumococcal polysaccharide (PnPs) serotypes 5, 6B, 14, 19A and 23F were cyanylated for 3 and 8 min. The cyanylated and non-cyanylated polysaccharides were methanolysed and derivatized to assess the activation of each sugar by GC-MS. The activation of 22 and 27% serotype 6B and 11 and 36% in serotype 23 F Ps at 3 and 8 min respectively showed controlled conjugation kinetics with CRM197 carrier protein estimated by SEC-HPLC and optimal absolute molar mass by SEC-MALS. The Glc and Gal are the most commonly activated sugars of all PnPs serotypes while N-acetyl sugars PneuNAc, GalNAc and Rha in serotypes 5, 14 and 19A respectively showed >50% activation which contributes to conjugate aggregate formation at 8 min compared to 3 min cyanylation. The GC-MS analysis of structural modifications at functional groups entails important information to characterize the activated polysaccharide for consistent conjugate vaccine manufacturing.

Host Stress Signals Stimulate Pneumococcal Transition from Colonization to Dissemination into the Lungs

Streptococcus pneumoniae is an asymptomatic colonizer of the nasopharynx, but it is also one of the most important bacterial pathogens of humans, causing a wide range of mild to life-threatening diseases. The basis of the pneumococcal transition from a commensal to a parasitic lifestyle is not fully understood. We hypothesize that exposure to host catecholamine stress hormones is important for this transition. In this study, we demonstrated that pneumococci preexposed to a hormone released during stress, norepinephrine (NE), have an increased capacity to translocate from the nasopharynx into the lungs compared to untreated pneumococci. Examination of NE-treated pneumococci revealed major alterations in metabolic profiles, cell associations, capsule synthesis, and cell size. By systemically mutating all 12 two-component and 1 orphan regulatory systems, we also identified a unique genetic regulatory circuit involved in pneumococcal recognition and responsiveness to human stress hormones. IMPORTANCE Microbes acquire unique lifestyles under different environmental conditions. Although this is a widespread occurrence, our knowledge of the importance of various host signals and their impact on microbial behavior is not clear despite the therapeutic value of this knowledge. We discovered that catecholamine stress hormones are the host signals that trigger the passage of Streptococcus pneumoniae from a commensal to a parasitic state. We identify that stress hormone treatment of this microbe leads to reductions in cell size and capsule synthesis and renders it more able to migrate from the nasopharynx into the lungs in a mouse model of infection. The microbe requires the TCS09 protein for the recognition and processing of stress hormone signals. Our work has particular clinical significance as catecholamines are abundant in upper respiratory fluids as well as being administered therapeutically to reduce inflammation in ventilated patients, which may explain why intubation in the critically ill is a recognized risk factor for the development of pneumococcal pneumonia.

Immunomodulatory, Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxic Effect of Sulfated Polysaccharides from Porphyridium cruentum. (S.F.Gray) Nägeli

Porphyridium cruentum is a unicellular microalga that can synthesize and secrete to the culture medium-high amounts of polysaccharides. In this study, the immunomodulatory, cytotoxic effect and antioxidant activity of the sulfated polysaccharides (PcSPs) were determinate. The PcSPs were precipitated with 2% Cetylpyridinium bromide hydrate and ethanol and purified by dialysis. The extract was lyophilized for its characterization by Fourier transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The antioxidant activity of PcSPs were examined with assay 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and compared with that of the biomass, observing significant differences between the results obtained from the PcSPs and biomass. To determine their ability to induce cytokine production Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukina-6 (IL-6), the immunomodulatory activity of the PcSPs has been evaluated. In the mouse macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7), PcSPs are potent inducers of IL-6 cytokines but mainly of TNF-α. The cytotoxic capacity of PcSPs was measured by the MTT colorimetric assay in colorectal carcinoma (HTC-116), human leukemia (U-937 and HL-60), breast cancer (MCF-7), lung cancer (NCI-H460) and human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1) cell lines. The IC50 value of 2311.20 µg mL-1, 1676.74 µg mL-1, 1089.63 µg mL-1, 5498.14 µg mL-1 and 2861.49 µg mL-1 respectively in the tumor lines and 5022.55 µg mL-1 in gingival fibroblasts were obtained. Our study suggested that PcSPs from P. cruentum have a moderate immunomodulatory and cytotoxic effect. The results obtained indicate that the polysaccharides from P. cruentum are potent inducers of IL-6 cytokines and, most importantly, of TNF-α. PcSPs showed no evidence of antigenic activity or hypersensitivity when administered intraperitoneally in mice. Furthermore, the in vivo study revealed an improvement of local inflammatory response against stress in the peritoneum. These findings suggest that the PcSPs from P. cruentum might have potential as a valuable ingredient in nutraceutical products.

The development and characterization of an E. coli O25B bioconjugate vaccine

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) cause a wide range of clinical diseases such as bacteremia and urinary tract infections. The increase of multidrug resistant ExPEC strains is becoming a major concern for the treatment of these infections and E. coli has been identified as a critical priority pathogen by the WHO. Therefore, the development of vaccines has become increasingly important, with the surface lipopolysaccharide constituting a promising vaccine target. This study presents genetic and structural analysis of clinical urine isolates from Switzerland belonging to the serotype O25. Approximately 75% of these isolates were shown to correspond to the substructure O25B only recently described in an emerging clone of E. coli sequence type 131. To address the high occurrence of O25B in clinical isolates, an O25B glycoconjugate vaccine was prepared using an E. coli glycosylation system. The O antigen cluster was integrated into the genome of E. coli W3110, thereby generating an E. coli strain able to synthesize the O25B polysaccharide on a carrier lipid. The polysaccharide was enzymatically conjugated to specific asparagine side chains of the carrier protein exotoxin A (EPA) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by the PglB oligosaccharyltransferase from Campylobacter jejuni. Detailed characterization of the O25B-EPA conjugate by use of physicochemical methods including NMR and GC-MS confirmed the O25B polysaccharide structure in the conjugate, opening up the possibility to develop a multivalent E. coli conjugate vaccine containing O25B-EPA.

Liposomal Dual Delivery of Both Polysaccharide and Protein Antigens

Pneumococcal disease is caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, a colonizing microorganism characterized by transitioning from a benign commensal to a virulent pathogen in the presence of suitable circumstances, which then poses a serious infectious disease threat afflicting millions of people. Especially affected are the young and elderly through outcomes that include pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, and otitis media. Current prevention vaccine options on the market contain capsular polysaccharides conjugated to the Diphtheria CRM197 protein (Pfizer) or are composed of only pneumococcal polysaccharides (Merck), and in both cases, limitations prevent the generation of comprehensive disease protection. Through the use of a liposomal carrier, we present an alternative methodology for producing a vaccine product via noncovalent colocalization of both polysaccharide and protein classes of complementary pneumococcal disease immunogens.

Extended Polysaccharide Analysis within the Liposomal Encapsulation of Polysaccharides System

The Liposomal Encapsulation of Polysaccharides (LEPS) dual antigen vaccine carrier system was assessed across two distinct polysaccharides for encapsulation efficiency, subsequent liposomal surface adornment with protein, adjuvant addition, and size and charge metrics. The polysaccharides derive from two different serotypes of Streptococcus pneumoniae and have traditionally served as the active ingredients of vaccines against pneumococcal disease. The LEPS system was designed to mimic glycoconjugate vaccines that covalently couple polysaccharides to protein carriers; however, the LEPS system uses a noncovalent co-localization mechanism through protein liposomal surface attachment. In an effort to more thoroughly characterize the LEPS system across individual vaccine components and thus support broader future utility, polysaccharides from S. pneumoniae serotypes 3 and 4 were systematically compared within the LEPS framework both pre- and post-surface protein attachment. For both polysaccharides, ≥85% encapsulation efficiency was achieved prior to protein surface attachment. Upon protein attachment with either a model protein (GFP) or a pneumococcal disease antigen (PncO), polysaccharide encapsulation was maintained at ≥61% encapsulation efficiency. Final LEPS carriers were also evaluated with and without alum as an included adjuvant, with encapsulation efficiency maintained at ≥30%, while protein surface attachment efficiency was maintained at ≥~50%. Finally, similar trends and distributions were observed across the different polysaccharides when assessed for liposomal zeta potential and size.

2-Phenoxyethanol: A novel reagent for improved sensitivity of carbohydrate quantification

Anthrone is a routinely used reagent for estimating carbohydrates (Polysaccharides) in research, development and pharmaceutical applications. In presence of sulphuric acid, the polysaccharide gets hydrolyzed to monosaccharides in the form of hydroxymethyl furfural or furfural. The furfural then reacts with anthrone to form a green color complex with a maximum absorbance at 625 nm. Though anthrone reacts well with polysaccharides containing hexoses (such as glucose and galactose) and rhamnose, it is less reactive with uronic acids (such as glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid) and hexosamines (such as fucosamine, glucosamine, galactosamine, mannosamine, pneumosamine). Here, we report a novel reagent, 2-Phenoxyethanol, which reacts with furfural or hydroxymethyl furfural resulting in higher absorptivity. This method is rapid, sensitive, simple and direct, and can be used for quantitative determination of any type of carbohydrate that contains neutral sugars and uronic acids. For these saccharides, the sensitivity of the assay using 2-Phenoxyethanol (2-PE) is twice over anthrone method. Uronic acids show improved sensitivity using 2-PE over Phenol and it is more than twice with glucuronic acid. 2-PE reagent method has greater application for quantification of carbohydrates when present in low concentration in vaccines/biologicals.

Design Variation of a Dual-Antigen Liposomal Vaccine Carrier System

The enclosed work focuses on the construction variables associated with a dual-antigen liposomal carrier, delivering encapsulated polysaccharides and surface-localized proteins, which served as a vaccine delivery device effective against pneumococcal disease. Here, the goal was to better characterize and compare the carrier across a range of formulation steps and assessment metrics. Specifically, the vaccine carrier was subjected to new methods of liposomal formation, including alterations to the base components used for subsequent macromolecule encapsulation and surface attachment, with characterization spanning polysaccharide encapsulation, liposomal size and charge, and surface protein localization. Results demonstrate variations across the liposomal constructs comprised two means of surface-localizing proteins (either via metal or biological affinity). In general, final liposomal constructs demonstrated a size and zeta potential range of approximately 50 to 600 nm and −4 to −41 mV, respectively, while demonstrating at least 60% polysaccharide encapsulation efficiency and 60% protein surface localization for top-performing liposomal carrier constructs. The results, thus, indicate that multiple formulations could serve in support of vaccination studies, and that the selection of a suitable final delivery system would be dictated by preferences or requirements linked to target antigens and/or regulatory demands.

Would immunization be the same without cross-reactivity?

"Cross-reactivity" (the observed immune response against pathogen types not specifically targeted by the vaccine antigen composition) and "cross-protection" (clinical protection against related non-vaccine microorganism types) are vaccinology concepts that are attracting renewed interest in the context of disease prevention. National health authorities are collecting mounting evidence of the importance of cross-reactivity. For some vaccines, this has been substantiated by cross-protection data from clinical studies and/or post-licensure data, where their introduction into immunization programmes has shown beneficial impacts on disease caused by related non-vaccine microorganisms. This knowledge has influenced the way new vaccines are designed, developed, and evaluated in real-life settings. Some of the new vaccines are now designed with the specific aim of having a greater breadth of protection. Ideal vaccine antigens therefore include epitopes with conserved homology across related pathogen types, because it is not always possible to include the antigens of all the individual types of a given pathogen species. The use of novel adjuvants with greater immunostimulatory properties can also contribute to improved overall vaccine cross-reactivity, as could the use of antigen delivery platforms. The growing body of evidence allows us to better understand the full impact of vaccines - beyond vaccine-type disease - which should be taken into consideration when assessing the full value of vaccination programmes.

Preliminary Characterization and Bioactivities of Some Impatiens L. Water-Soluble Polysaccharides

Preliminary characterization and bioactivity of water-soluble polysaccharides from four Impatiens species—I. glandulifera Royle, I. parviflora DC., I. balsamina L., and I. noli-tangere L.—were investigated. The yields of polysaccharides range widely from 1.97% for I. parviflora roots to 18.63% for I. balsamina aerial parts. SEC (Size exclusion chromatography) chromatograms show that all samples contained a low molecular weight part that consisted of components of similar molecular weight. The aerial parts and roots of I. balsamina, and I. glandulifera aerial parts had considerable amounts of high molecular weight components up to 2.3 MDa. The sugar composition analysis revealed that Impatiens polysaccharides consisted primarily of galactose, arabinose, rhamnose, mannose, xylose, and glucose. All polysaccharide fractions, except for I. parviflora roots, also contain galacturonic acid. Moreover, in vitro bioactivity of obtained polysaccharides were evaluated. The antioxidant activity was evaluated on the basis of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethyl-benzthia-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays. The highest antioxidant activity was obtained for I. balsamina aerial parts and I. parviflora roots. Among the tested fractions, only the polysaccharides from I. glandulifera aerial parts were able to significantly decrease the production of IL-8 by 32.7 ± 10.5%. The results suggest that Impatiens species can be considered as a new source of antioxidants.

Understanding modern-day vaccines: what you need to know

Vaccines are considered to be one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century. Depending on the biology of the infection, the disease to be prevented, and the targeted population, a vaccine may require the induction of different adaptive immune mechanisms to be effective. Understanding the basic concepts of different vaccines is therefore crucial to understand their mode of action, benefits, risks, and their potential real-life impact on protection. This review aims to provide healthcare professionals with background information about the main vaccine designs and concepts of protection in a simplified way to improve their knowledge and understanding, and increase their confidence in the science of vaccination ( Supplementary Material ). KEY MESSAGE Different vaccine designs, each with different advantages and limitations, can be applied for protection against a particular disease. Vaccines may contain live-attenuated pathogens, inactivated pathogens, or only parts of pathogens and may also contain adjuvants to stimulate the immune responses. This review explains the mode of action, benefits, risks and real-life impact of vaccines by highlighting key vaccine concepts. An improved knowledge and understanding of the main vaccine designs and concepts of protection will help support the appropriate use and expectations of vaccines, increase confidence in the science of vaccination, and help reduce vaccine hesitancy.

Development and evaluation of a novel vaccine against prevalent invasive multi-drug resistant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Streptococcus pneumoniae is a pathogen that causes serious invasive infections, such as septicemia, meningitis and pneumonia in addition to mild upper respiratory tract infections. Protection from pneumococcal diseases is thought to be mediated mainly by serotype-specific antibodies to capsular antigens. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine consists of sugars (polysaccharides) from the capsule of the bacterium S. pneumoniae that are conjugated to a carrier protein. Three pneumococcal conjugated vaccines, each directed against a group of serotypes, are registered in Egypt; however, local vaccine production is required to cover the most prevalent serotypes. In this work, capsular polysaccharide from the most current and prevalent serotypes in Egypt were extracted, purified and conjugated to bovine serum albumin (BSA). The polysaccharide protein conjugate was purified through ultrafiltration technique and molecular size distribution was compared to an available vaccine. The immunogenicity of the prepared vaccine was examined via two methods: First, by measuring the levels of the elicited antibodies in the sera of the vaccinated mice; second, by challenging the vaccinated groups of mice with approximately 107 CFU of each specific serotype and determining the degree of protection the developled vaccine offers. Our results show that the developed conjugated capsular polysaccharide vaccine is highly immunogenic and protective in mice. This finding illustrates the importance of tracking the most recent and predominant peneumococcal serotypes to generate effective vaccines, instead of using expensive imported vaccines with large number of serotypes which might not be even present in the community.

Structural features of a novel polysaccharide isolated from a New Zealand Maori mushroom Iliodiction cibarium

A purified water-soluble fraction (ICP5) of a polysaccharide, isolated from a local Maori mushroom Iliodiction cibarium in New Zealand, was investigated for its structural properties. Size exclusion chromatography and dynamic light scattering showed that ICP5 had a large MW of 1.6 × 10(5) Da with a hydrodynamic diameter of 83 ± 8 nm. Particle size measurements also displayed the tendency of ICP5 to aggregate when suspended in water. The results of GC-MS, FTIR and NMR analyses allowed some characteristics of the chemical structure of ICP5 to be determined. GC-MS results showed that ICP5 contained only glucose (81.61%), galactose (12.90%) and mannose (5.49%) monomers. The characterized fragment structures of ICP5 were found to be dominantly consisting of uronic acids, which formed a backbone containing 1,4-β-D-GlcpA. A small amount of unsaturated uronic acid also appeared to be present.

Response to Pneumococcal Polysaccharide Vaccination in HIV-Positive Individuals on Long Term Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Background and objectives

Streptococcus pneumoniae continues to cause serious infections in HIV-positive individuals in the era of highly active anti-retroviral therapy. This led to the recommendation to revaccinate HIV-positive individuals with PPV23 five years after primary vaccination. The benefits of revaccination and the impact of long term highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) on antigen-specific B cell reconstitution have remained unclear thus far and were investigated.

Design and methods

We assessed antibody levels, opsonophagocytic activity and phenotype of pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPS) specific-B cells post-revaccination in long term HAART cohorts stratified according to CD4 count as group A (CD4>200) and group B (CD4<200). Anti-PPS IgG, IgM and functional antibody response against vaccine serotypes 14 and 23F were measured by ELISA and opsonophagocytic assay followed by phenotypic analysis of PPS14 and 23F-specific B cells using fluorescently labeled PPS.

Results

Significant increases in total and functional antibody titers were noted in groups A and B post-vaccination concomitant with significant rise in PPS-specific IgM memory B cells, a critical B cell subset required for protection against PPS although the overall response remained significantly diminished compared to HIV-negative volunteers.

Conclusion

Comparable increases in opsonophagocytic titers between study groups A and B concomitant with a comparable rise in PPS-specific IgM memory B cells indicate revaccination to be beneficial regardless of the degree of CD4 T cell reconstitution. These findings emphasize the importance of defining effective vaccination practices amongst high-risk individuals.

Serotype-related variation in susceptibility to complement deposition and opsonophagocytosis among clinical isolates of Streptococcus pneumoniae

The polysaccharide capsule is a major virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae; it affects complement resistance and shields the bacterium from phagocytes. Certain capsular serotypes appear to be better able to cause invasive disease than others. Serotypes 1 and 5 are common causes of invasive disease but are rarely isolated from healthy carriers, whereas serotypes 6B and 23F are more frequently isolated from carriage than invasive disease. We have recently shown that serotypes 6B and 19F differ in resistance to complement C3 deposition and opsonophagocytic killing. In this study we assessed the complement resistance and susceptibility to opsonophagocytosis of several other serotypes targeted by the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines. Clinical isolates of serotypes 1, 4, 5, 14, 18C, and 23F were tested along reference strains of corresponding capsular types. The concentration of anticapsular antibodies required for opsonophagocytic killing correlated inversely with C3 deposition on the serotype. Serotype 1 was the most resistant of the clinical isolates to C3 deposition and, along with serotypes 5 and 19F, required the highest concentration of capsule antibodies for opsonophagocytic killing, whereas serotype 23F was the most sensitive to opsonophagocytosis. Sensitivity to C3 deposition and opsonophagocytosis was associated with serotype-specific mortality of invasive pneumococcal disease, suggesting that the primary pathogens, such as serotypes 1 and 5, are more resistant to complement and require a higher concentration of capsule antibodies for opsonophagocytic killing than the opportunistic serotypes such as 6B and 23F, which are associated with a more severe disease outcome.

Evaluation of carbohydrates in natural and cultured Cordyceps by pressurized liquid extraction and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry

Free and polymeric carbohydrates in Cordyceps, a valued edible mushroom and well-known traditional Chinese medicine, were determined using stepwise pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) extraction and GC-MS. Based on the optimized PLE conditions, acid hydrolysis and derivatization, ten monosaccharides, namely rhamnose, ribose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose, galactose, mannitol, fructose and sorbose in 13 samples of natural and cultured Cordyceps were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed and compared with myo-inositol hexaacetate as internal standard. The results showed that natural C. sinensis contained more than 7.99% free mannitol and a small amount of glucose, while its polysaccharides were usually composed of mannose, glucose and galactose with a molar ratio of 1.00:16.61-3.82:1.60-1.28. However, mannitol in cultured C. sinensis and cultured C. militaris were less than 5.83%, and free glucose was only detected in a few samples, while their polysaccharides were mainly composed of mannose, glucose and galactose with molar ratios of 1.00:3.01-1.09:3.30-1.05 and 1.00:2.86-1.28:1.07-0.78, respectively. Natural and cultured Cordyceps could be discriminated by hierarchical clustering analysis based on its free carbohydrate contents.

Analysis of the monosaccharide composition of purified polysaccharides in Ganoderma atrum by capillary gas chromatography

INTRODUCTION

Ganoderma, one of the best-known traditional Chinese medicines, has attracted considerable attention owing to the fact that dozens of polysaccharides isolated from it have shown diverse and potentially significant pharmacological activities. However, no work has been reported on the analysis of monosaccharide composition of polysaccharide isolated from the aqueous extract of Ganoderma atrum yet.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a simple and sensitive GC-based method for the analysis of monosaccharide composition of purified polysaccharides in Ganoderma atrum.

METHODOLOGY

The polysaccharide was first hydrolysed to give the constituent monosaccharides, which were subsequently derived into acetylated aldononitriles and analysed by gas chromatography using a capillary column packed with a (5%phenyl) methylpolysiloxane stationary phase with the addition of acetyl inositol as the inner standard. High-performance liquid chromatography was also used for comparison.

RESULTS

The stable derivatives of the most common monosaccharides could be separated and reproducibly determined with high sensitivity. The limits of detection and quantification were 0.013 and 0.043 mg/mL, respectively. The intermediary precision values (expressed as the RSD) were less than 10%. The mean recovery of the method was 100 + or - 3%, with RSD values of less than 5%. The results obtained from GC and HPLC methods were found to be close to each other within acceptable error ranges.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrated that the developed method could be applied as an accurate method for the compositional analysis of monosaccharides in the field of biological and biochemical study.

Structure of the capsular polysaccharide of pneumococcal serotype 11A reveals a novel acetylglycerol that is the structural basis for 11A subtypes

We have undertaken a structural assessment of Streptococcus pneumoniae 11A polysaccharide as well as two clinical isolates related to 11A. The clinical isolates were labeled 11Aalpha and 11Abeta. The result of our experiments is a revision to the old structure for S. pneumoniae 11A polysaccharide. The new structure differs from the old structure in both the primary connectivities and acetylation pattern. We also show that 11A contains an acetylglycerol-PO4 moiety, a substitution that is heretofore unknown in the bacterial polysaccharide literature. The two clinical isolates were also structurally characterized. 11Aalpha was determined to be identical to 11A. 11Abeta is a new serotype, which differs from 11A in the absence of the acetylation of the glycerol-PO4 moiety and a different acetylation pattern of the saccharides. Thus, we propose that the acetylglycerol is the structural basis for 11Aalpha and 11Abeta subtypes.

Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular serotype 19F is more resistant to C3 deposition and less sensitive to opsonophagocytosis than serotype 6B

The polysaccharide capsule is a major virulence mechanism of Streptococcus pneumoniae, shielding the bacterium from phagocytes. Capsule types may differ in their abilities to resist immune defense. Antibody-mediated complement activation and opsonophagocytosis are crucial in protection against pneumococcus. Conjugate vaccine trials suggest imperfect protection against 19F. We have previously shown that significantly more anti-19F than anti-6B antibody is needed for killing in the opsonophagocytic assay (OPA). In this study, we explored whether the amount of C3 deposited on serotype 6B and 19F pneumococcal strains reflects their sensitivity to opsonophagocytosis. We compared clinical 6B and 19F nasopharyngeal, middle ear, and blood isolates as well as reference OPA strains (n = 16) for their sensitivity to opsonophagocytosis and C3 deposition. Sixfold anticapsular antibody concentrations were required for 50% opsonophagocytic killing of 19F compared to that of 6B strains. Serotype 19F was more resistant to C3 deposition than 6B. Complement deposition and opsonophagocytosis were dependent on the concentration of anticapsular antibodies. Differences between pneumococcal serotypes in antibody-mediated protection may partly be explained by the abilities of the capsules to resist complement deposition. These findings support previous studies suggesting that higher antibody concentrations to the capsular polysaccharide are needed for protection against disease caused by serotype 19F than that caused by 6B.

Recent developments in sample preparation for chromatographic analysis of carbohydrates

Carbohydrates are a very important group of compounds due to their roles as structural materials, sources of energy, biological functions and environmental analytes; they are characterized by their structural diversity and the high number of isomers they present. While many advances have been made in carbohydrate analysis, the sample preparation remains difficult. This review aims to summarize the most important treatments which have been recently developed to be applied prior to the analysis of carbohydrates by chromatographic techniques. Due to the multiplicity of structures and matrices, many different techniques are required for clean-up, fractionation and derivatization. A number of new techniques which could be potentially adequate for carbohydrate characterization have also been revised.

Discovery of a new capsular serotype (6C) within serogroup 6 of Streptococcus pneumoniae

Using two monoclonal antibodies, we found subtypes among pneumococcal isolates that are typed as serotype 6A by the quellung reaction. The prevalent subtype bound to both monoclonal antibodies and was labeled here 6Aalpha, whereas the minor subtype bound to only one monoclonal antibody and was labeled 6Abeta. To determine the biochemical nature of the two serologically defined subtypes, we purified capsular polysaccharides (PSs) from the two subtypes and examined their chemical structures with gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The study results for 6Aalpha PS are consistent with the previously published structure of 6A PS, which is -->2) galactose (1-->3) glucose (1-->3) rhamnose (1-->3) ribitol (5-->phosphate. In contrast, the 6Abeta PS study results show that its repeating unit is -->2) glucose 1 (1-->3) glucose 2 (1-->3) rhamnose (1-->3) ribitol (5-->phosphate. We propose to continue referring to 6Aalpha as serotype 6A but to refer to 6Abeta as serotype 6C. Serotype 6C would thus represent the 91st pneumococcal serotype, with 90 pneumococcal serotypes having previously been recognized. This study also demonstrates that a new serotype may exist within an established and well-characterized serogroup or serotype.

Monitoring activation sites on polysaccharides by GC–MS

A method has been developed to determine the location and order of activation for potential saccharide antigens used in conjugate vaccine development. Saccharides were monitored for activation by sodium periodate oxidation and subsequent analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Pneumococcal serotype polysaccharides 7F and 18C were evaluated as polysaccharides containing multiple potential sites for activation. Sialyllactose was used as a model oligosaccharide compound to evaluate oxidation of terminally linked sialic acids and reducing sugar residues. Oxidized saccharides were analyzed by monosaccharide composition and/or linkage analysis to elucidate specific activation of cis versus trans diols, as well as diols containing primary versus secondary alcohols, at specified levels of periodate. Samples (100-500 microg) were sequentially oxidized, reduced, methanolyzed, and derivatized in a single reaction vial for routine analysis by GC-MS.

Addition of glycerol for improved methylation linkage analysis of polysaccharides

A presolubilization procedure with the use of glycerol is shown to be applicable for the structural analysis of polysaccharides. Neutral, acidic, high-molecular-weight and low-molecular-weight polysaccharides were solubilized in glycerol prior to methylation and subsequent linkage analysis by GC-MS. All four types of polysaccharides showed significant increases in derivatization following presolubilization as measured by recovery of partially methylated alditol acetates.