Isolation of two protein-free and chemically different lipopolysaccharides from Bordetella pertussis phenol-extracted endotoxin

Use of mass spectrometry to compare three O-chain-linked and free lipopolysaccharide cores: differences found in Bordetella parapertussis

Plasma desorption mass spectrometry and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry methods were used to investigate the molecular differences between lipopolysaccharide free core molecules and core molecules substituted by O-chains in Bordetella parapertussis, Salmonella ohio, and Escherichia coli 0119. The B. parapertussis analysis indicated a difference in mass of 569 amu corresponding to 3 distal sugars comprising terminal residues of heptose, galactosaminuronic acid, and, N-acetyl-N-methylfucosamine, a result supported by evidence from NMR and serology. No differences were evident in the analyses of cores in either S. ohio or E. coli O119, although the first O-chain unit carried by S. ohio core lacked a terminal glucose present in the residual O-chain repeating units.

Comparison of lipopolysaccharide structures of Bordetella pertussis clinical isolates from pre- and post-vaccine era

Endotoxins are lipopolysaccharides (LPS), and major constituents of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. Bordetella pertussis LPS were the only major antigens, of this agent of whooping-cough, that were not yet analyzed on isolates from the pre- and post-vaccination era. We compared here the LPS structures of four clinical isolates with that of the vaccine strain BP 1414. All physico-chemical analyses, including SDS-PAGE, TLC, and different MALDI mass spectrometry approaches were convergent. They helped demonstrating that, on the contrary to some other B. pertussis major antigens, no modification occurred in the dodecasaccharide core structure, as well as in the whole LPS molecules. These results are rendering these major antigens good potential vaccine components. Molecular modeling of this conserved LPS structure also confirmed the conclusions of previous experiments leading to the production of anti-LPS monoclonal antibodies and defining the main epitopes of these major antigens.

Interaction of bacterial lipopolysaccharide with mouse surfactant protein C inserted into lipid vesicles

Infection of the respiratory tract is a frequent cause of lung pathologies, morbidity, and death. When bacterial endotoxin [lipopolysaccharide (LPS)] reaches the alveolar spaces, it encounters the lipid-rich surfactant that covers the epithelium. Although binding of hydrophilic surfactant protein (SP) A and SP-D with LPS has been established, nothing has been reported to date on possible cross talks between LPS and hydrophobic SP-B and SP-C. We designed a new binding technique based on the incorporation of surfactant components to lipid vesicles and the separation of unbound from vesicle-bound LPS on a density gradient. We found that among the different hydrophobic components of mouse surfactant separated by gel filtration or reverse-phase HPLC, only SP-C exhibited the capacity to bind to a tritium-labeled LPS. The binding of LPS to vesicles containing SP-C was saturable, temperature dependent, related to the concentrations of SP-C and LPS, and inhibitable by distinct unlabeled LPSs. Unlike SP-A and SP-D, the binding of SP-C to LPS did not require calcium ions. This LPS binding capacity of SP-C may represent another antibacterial defense mechanism of the lung.

Chemical and serological characterization of the Bordetella hinzii lipopolysaccharides

Bordetella hinzii has recently been isolated from immunocompromised human hosts. The polysaccharides isolated from its endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) were investigated using chemical analyses, NMR, gas-liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and mass spectrometry by plasma desorption, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization and electrospray. The following structure for the O-chain-free LPS was deduced from the experimental results: carbohydrate structure [see text] Mass spectrometry and serology revealed that the O-chains were different from the homopolymer common to Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella parapertussis strains and were composed of a trisaccharide repeating unit. Masses up to 8 kDa were obtained for native LPS molecular species.

Structure of the Bordetella pertussis 1414 endotoxin

The endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide) of Bordetella pertussis, the agent of whooping cough, consists of a lipid A linked to a highly branched dodecasaccharide containing several acid and amino sugars. The elucidation of the polysaccharide structure was accomplished by first analyzing the structures of fragments obtained by hydrolysis and nitrous deamination and then piecing the fragments together. The fine structure of the antigenic distal pentasaccharide, presented here, was determined by chemical analyses as well as by high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry. The complete structure was reconstituted and confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. The following structure was derived from the combined experimental data:The detailed structure combined with previously reported serological data now allows the synthesis of its epitopes for potential vaccines.

Lipopolysaccharide expression within the genus Bordetella: influence of temperature and phase variation

LPSs play an important role in bacterial pathogenesis. In this study, the LPS expression of the seven known Bordetella species and its dependency on growth temperature was analysed by oxidative silver staining of proteinase-K-treated whole bacteria separated by Tricine-SDS-PAGE. The bordetellae were found to have extensively variable LPS in a species-specific way. In addition, the human and ovine Bordetella parapertussis strains exhibited host-specific LPS expression. LPSs from human B. parapertussis strains grown at 37 and 25 degrees C were distinct. Growth temperature also affected LPS production by several Bordetella bronchiseptica strains. In some of these cases, BvgAS, the global regulator of virulence factors, was involved in this regulation of LPS biosynthesis. In contrast, no evidence was found for the involvement of the Bordetella pertussis BvgAS system in regulation of LPS synthesis. The obligate human pathogens B. pertussis and Bordetella holmesii are closely related but were shown to produce immunologically distinct LPSs. These species are isolated from the upper respiratory tract and blood, respectively. This raises several interesting questions concerning the potential role of LPS as a virulence factor in the infection processes.

Tn5-induced lipopolysaccharide mutations in Bordetella pertussis that affect outer membrane function

An LPSB-specific mAb was used to screen for ten Tn5 insertion mutants of Bordetella pertussis which have LPS which is phenotypically distinct from either wild-type LPSAB or LPSB. Silver-strained SDS-PAGE gels showed nine different LPS phenotypes, six of which contain two clinically undocumented LPS bands, designated IntA and IntB based on their proximity to the LPSA and LPSB bands, respectively. Binding assays with LPSA- and LPSB-specific mAbs established changes in epitope exposure for the various mutant LPS, both in cell-free form and as presented on the surface of whole cells. The possible involvement of a number of genes, both structural and regulatory, was indicated in production of the altered phenotypes. PFGE and Southern blotting showed that the Tn5 inserts of seven mutants mapped to a region of the B. pertussis chromosome shown previously to encode the bpl gene products of LPS biosynthesis. Mutants MLT3, MLT5 and MLT8, however, mapped to distinctly different parts of the chromosome. In addition, mutants MLT2 and MLT3 contributed to an accelerated frequency in the appearance of avirulent phase organisms despite their Tn5 inserts being over 1000 bp from the bvglASR locus. The alterations in LPS structure in the mutants changed their reactivity to strain-specific mAbs and their sensitivity to hydrophobic and hydrophilic antibiotics.

Preexposure of mouse peritoneal macrophages to lipopolysaccharide and other stimuli enhances the nitric oxide response to secondary stimuli

The aim of this study was to compare the regulation of the production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and secondary nitric oxide (NO) in macrophages submitted to a sequence of two stimulations. Pre-exposure for 18 h of mouse thioglycollate-elicited peritoneal macrophages to low doses (1-10 ng/ml) of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), in the presence or absence of serum, induces on one hand a desensitization (endotoxin tolerance) for secondary TNF-alpha responses to LPS and, on the other hand, a 4 fold increase (priming) of secondary NO responses. Preexposure to components from Gram-positive bacteria (lipoteichoic acid, peptidoglycan) and to a synthetic lipid structurally related to lipid A (compound M4), induced similar effects. In contrast to the desensitization for TNF-alpha secretion, the priming for NO production was not mimicked by sodium nitroprusside, a generator of NO. The results suggest that concomitant but distinct activation pathways induced by LPS and other agents can be dissociated by serum-independent modulation processes elicited by pre-exposure of the cells to LPS itself, or to other stimuli.

Inability of the Francisella tularensis lipopolysaccharide to mimic or to antagonize the induction of cell activation by endotoxins

We studied the ability of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracted from a vaccine strain of Francisella tularensis (LPS-Ft) to mimic LPSs from other gram-negative bacteria for activation of various murine cell types or to antagonize the effects of other LPSs. We found that activation of macrophages for the production of tumor necrosis factor alpha and NO, of pre-B lymphocytes for the expression of surface immunoglobulins, and of bone marrow cells for the expression of LPS-binding sites was either undetectable with LPS-Ft or required concentrations 100 to 1,000 times higher than for standard LPSs. Preexposure of macrophages to LPS-Ft also failed to trigger down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (desensitization) or up-regulation of NO responses to an endotoxin challenge. In contrast to other atypical LPSs, LPS-Ft was also unable to antagonize any of the endotoxin-induced cellular responses mentioned above, suggesting that this LPS does not interact with LPS receptors.

Epitopes of Bordetella pertussis lipopolysaccharides as potential markers for typing of isolates with monoclonal antibodies

Three hybridomas (P1P3, D7 and 60.5) producing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against Bordetella pertussis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were established. All reacted with the LPS from a typical, vaccine strain of B. pertussis (1414), but not with that of a variant strain (A100). Two of these mAbs (P1P3 and 60.5) cross-reacted with a B. bronchiseptica LPS; only one (P1P3) reacted with a B. parapertussis LPS. ELISA reactivities with intact LPSs, and defined partial structures covalently linked to bovine serum albumin, were compared. mAb 60.5 bound to the terminal region of a distal trisaccharide consisting of N-acetylated amino sugars. D7 reacted with a substructure which can be modified in the B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica LPSs by addition of a polymeric O-chain. P1P3 bound to a nonacetylated glucosamine substituted with L-glycero-D-manno-heptose, present in the 'core' of the B. pertussis LPS. These mAbs may be useful for rapid typing of Bordetella in clinical isolates.

Formation and cell-medium partitioning of autoinhibitory free fatty acids and cyclodextrin's effect in the cultivation of Bordetella pertussis

Palmitic, palmitoleic and stearic acids were found in the extracted cellular lipids of virulent Bordetella pertussis as unesterified acids in confirmation of earlier taxonomic analyses. The same free fatty acids (FFAs) were found in the spent culture supernatant in concentrations higher than in the uninoculated medium, indicating that they are released into the extracellular medium. These long-chain fatty acids are known to inhibit the growth of B. pertussis at concentrations as low as 1 ppm. Measurement of palmitate cell-medium partitioning demonstrated a strong tendency of FFAs for cellular adsorption. Inhibition kinetics indicated that the cell-bound FFA was responsible for inhibition and that the specific cellular FFA concentrations actually found during growth were similar to those determined to be inhibitory. Autoinhibition by these endogenous FFAs provides an explanation of the low maximum cell concentrations currently attainable in liquid media. Addition of soluble dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MebetaCD) to FFA-inhibited cultures resulted in a rapid reversal of the inhibition. A corresponding shift in the distribution of FFAs from the cells to the extracellular medium demonstrated that MebetaCD sequesters FFAs. Although MebetaCD did not increase final cell concentrations and even had an adverse effect on growth at concentrations above 1 g l-1, it did (at 1 g l-1 extend the initial period of high growth rate leading to shorter cultivation times.

Endotoxin-induced desensitization of mouse macrophages is mediated in part by nitric oxide production

Refractoriness (tolerance) to endotoxin effects, such as induction of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) secretion, can be elicited in vitro in macrophages by preexposure of cells to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) itself. The aim of this study was to determine whether this phenomenon is due to negative feedback mediated by the free radical nitric oxide (NO) produced by cells when they are activated by LPS. Among several efficient inhibitors of NO production, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine did not induce concomitant inhibition of TNF-alpha secretion. Mouse macrophages that were exposed to LPS in the presence of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine partially maintained the ability to secrete TNF-alpha in response to a second LPS stimulation, compared with cells preexposed to LPS alone, thus suggesting that NO is involved in part in LPS-induced desensitization of cells. Furthermore, direct exposure of cells to the NO-generating compounds sodium nitroprusside and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine mimicked LPS-induced desensitization. However, low concentrations of a synthetic lipid (lipid M4) that is structurally analogous to the reducing end of the lipid A moiety of LPS induced desensitization of mouse macrophages without concomitant production of NO. Taken together, these data suggest that although NO actually takes part in LPS-induced desensitization of mouse macrophages, additional and yet unknown mechanisms must also exist.

Differential recovery of macrophages from endotoxin-tolerant states elicited by lipopolysaccharide and enzymatic treatments

Exposure of macrophages to endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) leads to a suppression of their capacity to bind LPS and to produce cytokines after reexposure to LPS. This phenomenon is termed endotoxin tolerance, or LPS-induced desensitization. LPS also stimulates the secretion of serine proteases in macrophages, and activates membrane phospholipases. We have investigated the role of trypsin (a serine protease) and of a phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC, which cleaves GPI-anchored molecules such as CD14), on LPS-induced desensitization. The results obtained by treatment with PI-PLC or in the presence of protease inhibitors, suggested that activation of phospholipases and proteases are not involved in LPS-induced desensitization. However, trypsin treatment of macrophages abolished both LPS binding and cytokine responses. The recovery of macrophages from this trypsin-induced tolerance (restoration of TNF-alpha synthesis without reexpression of LPS-binding sites) was very different from that following LPS-induced tolerance (reexpression of LPS-binding sites without restoration of TNF-alpha synthesis). The results are consistent with the hypothesis that signaling LPS-receptors might be synthesized de novo after trypsin degradation, whereas non-signaling LPS-receptors might be internalized and recycled after preexposure to LPS.

Structure of a hexasaccharide proximal to the hydrophobic region of lipopolysaccharides present in Bordetella pertussis endotoxin preparations

A branched-chain hexasaccharide containing 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid was released by detergent-promoted hydrolysis from Bordetella pertussis endotoxin preparations that were first dephosphorylated with aqueous HF and then treated with nitrous acid. Its structure (2) [Formula: See text] was determined by chemical and physical methods. This hexasaccharide is present in all four lipopolysaccharides that make up the B. pertussis strain 1414 (phase 1) endotoxin preparations analysed, and is situated near to the hydrophobic domains. An analogous structure reported previously (ref 7) is erroneous and should be disregarded.

Structural features involved in the mitogenic activity of Bordetella pertussis lipopolysaccharides for spleen cells of C3H/HeJ mice

Spleen cells from the C3H/HeJ mouse strain cannot be stimulated by many smooth-type lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), and by the main biologically-active region (lipid A) of these molecules. The genetic origin of this defect (expression of the mutant allele Lpsd at the chromosome 4 locus) was established over 20 years ago, but its biochemical nature has remained undefined. Several investigators have noted, however, that some particular LPSs can bypass this defect, and stimulate the proliferation of C3H/HeJ B lymphocytes. In this study we compare the mitogenic activities of the LPSs isolated from a wild strain (1414) and from a mutant 'rough' strain (A100) of Bordetella pertussis. Both LPS-1414 and LPS-A100 were mitogenic for C3H/HeJ spleen cells, but their lipid A fragments were not. This indicates that a carbohydrate structure proximal to lipid A is involved in the mitogenic activity. However, the isolated polysaccharides were not mitogenic. Four sugars are common to both LPS-1414 and LPS-A100: an heptose, and three sugars bearing free amino groups. After removal of these four sugars from the LPSs by nitrous acid treatment, the recovered lipooligosaccharides were not mitogenic in Lpsd spleen cells. The results suggest that substructures present in lipid A and in this group of four sugars are both required for induction of a mitogenic effect in Lpsd splenocytes, whereas lipid A alone can stimulate Lpsn spleen cells.

A bactericidal monoclonal antibody specific for the lipooligosaccharide of Bordetella pertussis reduces colonization of the respiratory tract of mice after aerosol infection with B. pertussis

A mouse immunoglobulin G3 monoclonal antibody specific for the core oligosaccharide moiety of the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) of Bordetella pertussis has been shown to have complement-dependent bactericidal activity. This monoclonal antibody exhibits bactericidal activity against strains of B. pertussis that express the LOS A phenotype. In addition this monoclonal antibody was effective in reducing colonization by B. pertussis in both the lungs and tracheas of mice after aerosol infection.

Preparation and binding specificity of a monoclonal antibody recognizing 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (Kdo) in lipopolysaccharides of Re chemotype

A mouse monoclonal antibody (MAb E1) was raised against the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of the Re mutant R595 of Salmonella minnesota. This IgG3 antibody (MAb E1), unstable at low pH and low ionic strength, was purified by chromatography on QAE Sepharose A50. The binding specificity of MAb E1 was characterized by direct and inhibition enzyme immunoassays, using natural LPSs from different strains and chemotypes, and synthetic analogs of LPS substructure of the 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (Kdo) and Lipid A regions. Among various LPSs, MAb E1 reacted exclusively with those of Re-chemotype. It recognized alpha-Kdo- monosaccharide and disaccharide structures present as non-reducing side chains in various Re-type LPSs and synthetic antigens. The antibody did not react with Lipid A or various lipids, and the presence of the lipid region was not necessary for the reaction. The recognition of the epitope was not reduced by the presence of a substituent at O-8 of one of the two Kdo units present in the Re LPS from Proteus mirabilis, but the reaction was inhibited by phosphorylation of O-4 of Kdo, by the proximity of core (heptose) or Lipid A (acylated glucosamine) residues, or by certain LPS-LPS interactions.

Separation and characterization of two chemically distinct lipopolysaccharides in two Pectinatus species

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from the type strains of the anaerobic beer spoilage bacteria Pectinatus cerevisiiphilus and P. frisingensis were extracted with the 5:5:8 volume ratio modification of the phenolchloroform-petroleum ether method (H. Brade and C. Galanos, Eur. J. Biochem. 122:233-237, 1982). Sequential precipitations of LPS with water and acetone from the phenol phase yielded LPS which differed in that water-precipitable material (LPS-H2O; 0.1 to 0.4% of the dry weight of the cells) was rough-type LPS, whereas acetone-precipitable material (LPS-Ac; 4.6 to 5.8% of the dry weight) contained both rough-type LPS and high-molecular-weight material resembling smooth LPS. The LPS were chemically characterized, and they contained D-glucosamine, 4-amino-4-deoxy-L-arabinose, 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid, D-fucose, D-galactose, D-glucose, D-mannose, and phosphate. D-Fucose was present mostly in LPS-Ac, suggesting that it is a constituent of the O antigen. The major fatty acids were ester- and amide-linked (R)-3-hydroxytridecanoic and ester-linked undecanoic acids, with minor amounts of ester-linked tridecanoic and (R)-3-hydroxyundecanoic acids. The chemical compositions of LPS-H2O and LPS-Ac suggested that they differ not only in their smooth or rough nature but also in the structure of their core regions. This may explain their different precipitabilities from the extraction mixture. The extraction method was also shown to be applicable to the isolation of smooth-type LPS from Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. Extraction of two Typhimurium strains carrying chemically different O antigens resulted in high yields (8% of the dry weight) of LPS. Strain SH2183, which contains the relatively hydrophobic O-4,5,12 antigen yielded almost exclusively LPS-Ac, whereas the LPS of strain SH5770, which has a hydrophilic O-6,7 antigen, was exclusively LPS-H2O. No fractionation to smooth and rough LPS occurred with the Typhimurium strains.

Binding of endotoxin to macrophages: distinct effects of serum constituents

The respective roles of serum lipoproteins, and of the complement component C3, in the binding of endotoxin (LPS) to macrophages were analyzed by an in vitro assay using [3H]LPS. The addition of an anti-C3 serum in the medium induced an apparent abolishment of the specific binding of LPS to mouse macrophages, but this effect appeared to be due to an actual increase of nonspecific binding. Isolated complexes of LPS with lipoproteins of high density (HDL3) and of very high density (VHDL) did not bind to macrophages. Furthermore, addition of HDL3 and VHDL in the incubation medium inhibited the specific binding of LPS to macrophages. These results suggest that C3 reduces nonspecific interactions between LPS and macrophages whereas associations between LPS and HDL3 or VHDL inhibit specific LPS-macrophage interactions.

Variations in the carbohydrate regions of Bordetella pertussis lipopolysaccharides: electrophoretic, serological, and structural features

Structural and immunological differences between the two components that are usually present in unequal quantities in Bordetella pertussis endotoxin preparations and are visualized by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis have been studied by using strains 1414, A100, and 134, all in phase I. According to analyses by both sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and thin-layer chromatography, the minor (8%) component of the endotoxin of strain 1414 (endotoxin 1414) appeared to be the predominating component of endotoxins A100 and 134. The masses of the carbohydrate chains isolated from endotoxin A100 and from the major component of endotoxin 1414 were 1,649 and 2,311 atomic mass units, respectively, as determined by 252Cf plasma desorption mass spectrometry. Comparison of the 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of these chains established that four N-acetyl groups, an N-methyl group, and a 6-deoxy function, which characterize the nonreducing, distal trisaccharide of the glycose chain of strain 1414, were absent from that of strain A100. The antigenicity of endotoxin 1414, as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, was higher than that of endotoxin A100, but fell below it when the glycose chain of endotoxin 1414 was deprived of seven sugars by treatment with nitrous acid. This observation suggests that at least three (distal, proximal, and intermediate) regions of the glycose chain of endotoxin 1414 carry antigenic determinants. One of these, located in the distal trisaccharide, is absent from both endotoxins A100 and 134.

Effects of lipopolysaccharide on macrophages analyzed with anti-lipid A monoclonal antibodies and polymyxin B

Six monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to the lipid A region of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), obtained from mice immunized with lipid A-coated Bordetella pertussis cells (mAb 3.E8, 2.21, 2.37, 2.41) or with lipid A covalently coupled to keyhole limpet hemocyanin (mAb R1 and R7), were examined for their potential to inhibit in vitro activities of LPS on macrophages. mAb R7 was inactive in vitro, but the five other mAb inhibited efficiently some in vitro activities of LPS. mAb R1, 2.21 and 3.E8 reduced the LPS-induced secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 1 (IL 1) by macrophages, but did not modify the binding of LPS to macrophages. On the other hand, mAb 2.37 and 2.41 reduced LPS binding to macrophages and subsequent IL1 secretion, but did not modify TNF production. This is in agreement with our previous finding that IL1 and TNF productions can be selectively triggered by synthetic analogs of lipid A substructures (Lasfargues and Chaby, Cell. Immunol. 1988. 115: 165). The pattern of in vitro inhibition of LPS activities (LPS binding to macrophages and production of TNF and membrane IL 1) by polymyxin B was different from those of the two groups of anti-lipid A mAb mentioned above. These observations suggest the presence on lipid A of four functionally distinct substructures.

The effect of cyclodextrin on lipopolysaccharide production in cultures of Bordetella pertussis

The effect of adding 500 micrograms of (2,6-0-dimethyl) beta-cyclodextrin (Me-beta-CD) per ml of Stainer-Scholte (SS) medium in two-day shaker flask cultures of Bordetella pertussis on the production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was investigated. The amount of LPS per 10(9) cells found in the supernatants of these cultures was either somewhat reduced or unaffected by comparison with the amounts in cultures grown in SS-medium alone. In addition, the time course of LPS release from cultures of B. pertussis strain 3843 cells during a 96-h growth period in normal and Me-beta-CD-enriched SS medium is described. By using the enriched medium bacterial growth, the production of filamentous haemagglutinin (FHA) and of pertussis toxin (Pt) and the levels of haemagglutination and lymphocytosis-promoting activity were enhanced to various degrees. Measurements made on sedimented whole and on sonicated B. pertussis cells grown in the two media showed no differences in LPS content. The reasons for the reduced/unaffected LPS production are discussed. It has been suggested that an interaction between hydrophobic cavities of the Me-beta-CD molecules and the 'lipid A' part of LPS reduces the reactivity of LPS in the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay. This possibility, however, was rejected as the reactivity of Me-beta-CD-spiked purified B. pertussis strain 3803 LPS, compared with unspiked samples, remained unchanged.

Development of a rat model for respiratory infection with Bordetella pertussis

Considerable effort directed toward designing a safe and effective vaccine for Bordetella pertussis in which the cellular and/or acellular antigens necessary to confer immunity are known has been hampered by lack of information on the pathogenesis of the natural infection. The study presented here describes an animal model of lung infection by B. pertussis encased in agar beads in adult (200- to 220-g) male Sprague-Dawley rats. At 3 and 7 days after inoculation with phase I B. pertussis, organisms could be recovered from the lungs of rats; however, organisms were not recoverable at days 10 and 14 but reappeared in lung homogenates at day 21. Histopathological examination revealed findings similar to those seen in human disease. At day 3, a mild lymphocytic infiltrate was present in the bronchi, with progressive lymphoid hyperplasia peribronchially. By day 7, a necrotizing inflammation of the tracheobronchial mucous membranes, characterized by both mononuclear and polymorphonuclear cells, was noted. Phase III B. pertussis organisms were not recoverable from the lungs of inoculated rats at day 3 after inoculation, nor were histological changes noted in these animals. Clinical findings in phase I B. pertussis-infected rats included hypoglycemia, circulating lymphocytosis, and paroxysms in which air was forcibly expelled from the mouth or nose.

Gas chromatographic determination of (phosphorylated) 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid, heptoses and glucosamine in bacterial lipopolysaccharides after treatment with hydrofluoric acid, methanolysis and trifluoroacetylation

Quantification of phosphorylated sugar constituents of lipopolysaccharides has been performed by the following sequence: dephosphorylation by treatment with hydrofluoric acid, cleavage to monomeric constituents by methanolysis and analysis of the released sugars by capillary gas chromatography. Lipopolysaccharides of Salmonella minnesota Rd1P+, Bordetella pertussis NIH 114 and Vibrio cholerae, NAG and 95R strains, were used as model substances. Comparison of the chromatographic data obtained from hydrofluoric acid-treated and untreated lipopolysaccharide preparations indicated that all lipopolysaccharides examined contained one moiety of glucosamine bound to phosphate in a stable linkage. 2-Keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid appeared phosphorylated to a variable extent. Lipopolysaccharides of the two V. cholerae strains contained one moiety of fully phosphorylated 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid, whereas in that of S. minnesota Rd1P+ only one of the three moieties was phosphorylated. Lipopolysaccharide of B. pertussis had one moiety of 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid, ca. 70% phosphorylated. All four of the preparations examined contained L-glycero-D-manno-heptose in amounts varying from 2.6 to 5.2 moieties. In the lipopolysaccharides of B. pertussis and strain 95R of V. cholerae this sugar was unphosphorylated, whereas the two remaining strains contained one phosphorylated moiety of this sugar. Phosphorylated lipopolysaccharide constituents can be analysed by this approach on a 50-100 micrograms scale.

Inhibition of activated nonresponder C3H/HeJ lymphocytes by lipopolysaccharide endotoxin

The B lymphocytes and macrophages of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) nonresponder C3H/HeJ mice were found to respond to certain R types of LPS endotoxin in a fashion resembling that ordinarily seen with the cells from normal responder mice. DNA synthesis, polyclonal antibody synthesis, and interleukin-1 activity were stimulated by Bordetella pertussis LPS and Salmonella minnesota R595 LPS, although to a lesser extent than with responder cells. Mitogenesis stimulated by both LPSs was inhibited by polymyxin B; this finding provided evidence that any trace endotoxin-associated proteins were not responsible for the activity. Of particular interest was the finding that wild-type smooth LPS actually inhibited activation of the C3H/HeJ B cells not only by the LPS but also by mitogenic proteins, including purified protein derivative of tuberculin. The nonspecific nature of this inhibition and the fact that maximal inhibition occurred some 9 to 12 h into the culture period suggested that the proliferation of the B cells was affected by smooth-type LPS in a manner heretofore unrecognized. These findings permit a new approach to the study of how LPS endotoxin affects cells of the immune system.

Lipopolysaccharides in a traditional pertussis vaccine

Analysis of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS, endotoxin) in cell sonicates of four Danish vaccine strains of Bordetella pertussis (3803, 3825, 3843 and 3860) and of purified strain 3803 LPS in sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis by silver staining, showed identical profiles. The LPS profile revealed a dominant, brownish LPS II band and a minor, faster-migrating, black-stained LPS I band. However, the ratio of LPS I to LPS II in the preparation of purified LPS differed slightly from the cell sonicates. Using marker LPS, the molecular weights of LPS I and LPS II were estimated at 5.4 and 6.0 kD, respectively. Seven different lots of whole cell pertussis vaccine were assayed for LPS in the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate test and were found to contain 0.9-2.8 micrograms LPS/ml. No significant difference in the content of LPS in similar dilutions of the individual strains was observed. In addition, the distribution of free and cell-bound LPS in four pertussis vaccines was investigated. Most of the LPS was found to exist as free LPS. During several months, the course of both LPS and pertussis toxin (Pt) release in freshly killed B. pertussis preparations was followed. In the first few weeks, 35-50% of the LPS was released and after 5-6 months of storage 60-80% had been released. In contrast, less than 10% of the biologically active pertussis toxin was released during the experimental period. The possibility of producing a safer whole cell pertussis vaccine by reducing the amount of free LPS without reducing the protective value correspondingly is discussed.

Pertussis: the disease and new diagnostic methods

Bordetella pertussis, the causative agent of whooping cough, produces an acute and chronic respiratory infection in infants and young children. B. pertussis is still a major health problem of young children throughout the world even though effective immunization against whooping cough is available. While predominantly a childhood disease, it has been reported also to be a cause of persistent cough in adults. This review discusses the numerous bacterial virulence factors that may play roles in the pathogenesis of pertussis and in immunity to infection. The present problems with pertussis diagnosis, recent advances, and future prospects for new and improved rapid diagnostics tests also are explored.

Detergent-accelerated hydrolysis of bacterial endotoxins and determination of the anomeric configuration of the glycosyl phosphate present in the "isolated lipid A" fragment of the Bordetella pertussis endotoxin

Due to the formation of micelles, severance of the hydrophilic (poly- or oligosaccharide) and hydrophobic ("Lipid A") domains of bacterial lipopolysaccharides at pH 3.4 or 4.5 and 100 degrees is slow and sometimes does not proceed at all; partially degraded fragments are usually formed. At pH 3.4 (100 degrees) in aqueous 1% sodium dodecylsulphate (SDS), both lipopolysaccharides of the Bordetella pertussis endotoxin are cleaved within 20-30 min, but 80% of the glycosidically bound phosphate present in the hydrophobic domain is lost. Other endotoxins behave similarly. At pH 4.5 (100 degrees) and in the absence of detergent, hydrolysis of the glycosidic bonds of 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid residues of the B. pertussis endotoxin is negligible but, in aqueous 1% SDS, severance of the two regions of LPS 1 is complete within 1 h (that of LPS-2 requires 3-4 h), and the glycosidically bound phosphate of the isolated hydrophobic region is preserved. Comparison of the rate of acid-catalysed hydrolysis of the glycosidically bound phosphate present in this "isolated Lipid A" preparation with that of 2-deoxy-2-[(3R)-3-hydroxytetradecanamido]-alpha- and -beta-D-glucopyranose 1-phosphates established that the former 1-phosphate was the alpha anomer.

Agglutinating monoclonal antibodies that specifically recognize lipooligosaccharide A of Bordetella pertussis

Monoclonal antibodies that specifically agglutinate strains of Bordetella pertussis having serotype 1 agglutinogen were uniquely reactive with the electrophoretically slow-migrating A form of lipooligosaccharide. These monoclonal antibodies should be useful for the structural analysis of B. pertussis lipooligosaccharide and for the establishment of a better-defined serogroup for Bordetella species.

Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies directed against Bordetella pertussis lipopolysaccharide

Hybrid cell lines producing monoclonal antibodies against Bordetella pertussis lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were established. The specificity of the antibodies was ascertained by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and ELISA-inhibition experiments with LPS and delipidated polysaccharide fragments (PS-1 and PS-2) prepared from B. pertussis LPS. Monoclonal antibody 9-1-H5 reacted with B. pertussis LPS only, whereas monoclonal antibodies 6-4-H6 and 9-2-A8 reacted with PS-1 and PS-2 as well as B. pertussis LPS. The antibodies did not react with LPS prepared from B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica in an LPS-specific ELISA. A monoclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA was developed for detection of B. pertussis LPS. This assay had a detection limit of B. pertussis LPS in concentrations ranging from 0.16 to 0.32 microgram/ml. The assay was also shown to be specific for the detection of whole B. pertussis bacteria. No cross-reactions were observed with strains of Branhamella catarrhalis, Neisseria meningitidis, Streptococcus miteor, Haemophilus influenzae, or Legionella pneumophila. The monoclonal antibodies might be useful for the detection of soluble antigens and whole bacteria in clinical samples and for studies of the immunochemical structure of B. pertussis LPS.

Lipopolysaccharide nomenclature--past, present, and future

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Analysis of the lipopolysaccharide-induced cytostatic activity of macrophages, by the use of synthetic models

Informations on the structural features implicated in the macrophage-dependent cytostatic activity of "lipid A" preparations were obtained by the use of 15 synthetic glycolipids. Four structural requirements were identified: the presence of a reducing glucosamine unit; the presence of a free hydroxyl group on amide-linked 3-hydroxytetradecanoic acids, and the absence of free hydroxyl groups at positions 3 and 6 of the glucosamine. The monosaccharide resembling the reducing unit of the "lipid A backbone," which fulfills these criteria, had the highest cytostatic activity, whereas the compound possessing the substitution pattern of the nonreducing moiety was inactive.

Isolation, purification, and partial characterization of a lipopolysaccharide from Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Haemophilus pleuropneumoniae 1536, serotype 2, was isolated and purified by a procedure designed to be equally satisfactory for both smooth- and rough-type LPS. The LPS yield was 53%. Analysis of the preparations revealed that protein, nucleic acid, and cellular phospholipid contamination was negligible (less than 0.1%). Analysis of the sugar content of the LPS by gas-liquid chromatography and colorimetric analysis revealed the presence of rhamnose, mannose, galactose, glucose, heptose, glucosamine, galactosamine, and 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid. The heptose and glucose contents appeared to be unusually high. The fatty acids of the LPS consisted of a mixture of C14:0 and C16:0 in a ratio of about 4.5:1 (50% of the total) and 3-hydroxy C14:0. When used as a preparatory dose for the dermal Shwartzman reaction, as little as 10 micrograms of the LPS injected intradermally in rabbits produced reddening and swelling. After intravenous injection of a 100-micrograms LPS provoking dose, necrosis was observed at all intradermal injection sites. Limulus amebocyte lysate gelation was observed with an LPS concentration as low as 0.5 ng/ml. A typical biphasic fever response was noted in rabbits injected with as little as 0.25 ng of LPS per kg of body weight.

Chemical synthesis and immunological activities of glycolipids structurally related to lipid A

Complete chemical syntheses of a number of monosaccharides derived from 2-deoxy-2-[(3R)-3-hydroxytetradecanamido]-D-glucopyranose and structurally related to the hydrophobic moiety (lipid A) of several bacterial endotoxins are described. Selected humoral (complement activation) and cellular (mitogenicity and induction of interleukin 1 production) in vitro activities of a lipid A preparation obtained from the Bordetella pertussis endotoxin were compared with those of ten of these monosaccharides and with those of previously synthesized, analogous disaccharides. Results show that each of these in vitro activities of the lipid A preparation can be efficiently induced by at least one of the monosaccharide derivatives.

Pertussis vaccine: present status and future prospects

Use of killed whole-cell Bordetella pertussis vaccines has been a major factor in control of symptomatic whooping cough (pertussis). In the UK, diminished public confidence in the safety of this vaccine led to a reduction in vaccine acceptance which correlated with an increase in the incidence of pertussis. There is a need for acellular pertussis vaccines of low toxicity which, ideally, will prevent colonization and also protect against the disease symptoms. Vaccine design can rely increasingly on knowledge of the roles of individual bacterial components in the pathogenesis of pertussis. Serotype-specific agglutinogens 2 and 3 (fimbriae) and filamentous haemagglutinin are among surface components of B. pertussis which probably mediate adhesion to the respiratory mucosa. Systemic effects of pertussis can largely be attributed to the lymphocytosis promoting factor (pertussis toxin). Vaccines containing detoxified toxin plus one or more purified adhesins are envisaged at present.

Specific binding of endotoxin to human monocytes and mouse macrophages: serum requirement

Specific binding of Bordetella pertussis and Neisseria meningitidis endotoxins to human monocytes and murine macrophages was demonstrated. Binding of B. pertussis endotoxin could be inhibited by endotoxins of Salmonella minnesota, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, the extent of inhibition being dependent on the origin of the lipopolysaccharides and on the origin of the mononuclear phagocytic cells. The binding of B. pertussis and N. meningitidis endotoxins which was mediated by the polysaccharide region of the endotoxins was serum dependent. The results indicated that the binding of endotoxin was promoted neither by natural antibodies directed against the endotoxin nor by proteins known to combine with endotoxins: immunoglobulins, albumin, or fibronectin; we have provided some evidence that complement components may play a role in the specific binding of endotoxins to the monocyte/macrophage membrane.

Structure of the terminal reducing heptasaccharide of polysaccharide 1 isolated from the Bordetella pertussis endotoxin

The tetrasaccharide beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1,3)-beta-D-glucopyranuronyl-(1, 2)-L-glycero-alpha-D-manno-heptopyranosyl-(1,5)-3-deoxy-D-manno-2- octulosonic acid was isolated after treatment of polysaccharide 1 of Bordetella pertussis endotoxin with nitrous acid. Taking into account previously identified di- and trisaccharide fragments and analytical data obtained for the intact polysaccharide 1, we present the structure of a heptasaccharide that is thought to represent the region immediately adjacent to the hydrophobic (lipid A) moiety of lipopolysaccharide 1 of the B. pertussis endotoxin. This heptasaccharide represents 50 to 60% of the complete polysaccharide structure.

Fractionation of hemagglutinating and bacterial binding adhesins of Bacteroides gingivalis

An outer membrane complex containing hemagglutinating and bacterial aggregating activity has been isolated from Bacteroides gingivalis. Examination of the membrane material by biochemical analysis, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and immunological means revealed that the crude outer membrane preparation contained three major proteins and a lipopolysaccharide population that displayed size heterogeneity. At least two membrane proteins as well as the lipopolysaccharide were found to be antigenically active by immunoblot analysis. With gel chromatography and a lipopolysaccharide disaggregating buffer the membrane material was separated into two fractions. An accompanying separation of the two adherence activities was observed. The first membrane fraction, containing mostly protein and carbohydrate material, was found to contain the bacterial aggregating activity. This fraction also contained a high-molecular-weight lipopolysaccharide population. The second membrane fraction, consisting of low-molecular-weight lipopolysaccharide, protein, and loosely bound lipid was found to contain the hemagglutinating activity.

Two physically and serologically distinct lipopolysaccharide profiles in strains of Bordetella pertussis and their phenotype variants

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from nine strains representing 18 phenotype variants of Bordetella pertussis could be grouped into one of two distinct profiles by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. One group, representing the wild-type LPS profile of B. pertussis, consisted of two silver-staining bands: a dominant brown-amber a band and a faster-migrating, minor, black-staining b band. The second group, representing a variant LPS profile, consisted of a single black-staining band of similar mobility to the b band in the wild-type profile. By electrophoretic transfer (Western) blot analysis, mouse antiserum raised against whole cells of Tohama I (prototype wild-type LPS strain) recognized only the a band from all strains/phenotypes possessing the wild-type LPS profile. In contrast, mouse antiserum raised against whole cells of 134 (prototype variant LPS strain) recognized all b bands, regardless of strain/phenotype, and could be shown to cross-react weakly with the a band from Tohama I. These results and results from cohemagglutination and immunodiffusion analyses support the classification of B. pertussis into one of two physiologically and serologically distinct LPS phenotypes: Lps AB for the wild-type profile and Lps B for the variant profile. The relationship of LPS type and phenotypic, or "phase," variation is discussed.

Effects of Bordetella pertussis components on IgE and IgG1 responses

The effect of dermonecrotic toxin (DNT), fimbrial hemagglutinin (FHA), K-agglutinogen, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and pertussigen from Bordetella pertussis on the production of IgE and IgG1 antibodies to hen egg albumin (Ea) was investigated in C57BL/6 mice. The IgE antibody contents were determined by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) in the skin of Lewis rats, while the IgG1 antibody contents were determined by PCA reactions on the skin of mice using sera that had been heated for 3 hr at 56 C to destroy the IgE antibodies. Among the B. pertussis components tested, pertussigen was the most effective adjuvant for increasing the IgE and IgG1 antibodies to Ea. LPS also moderately increased both types of antibodies, and FHA slightly increased the IgG1 titers. When LPS was given 5 days before Ea, it suppressed both IgE and IgG1 titers while FHA had only slight adjuvant action on both type of antibodies. When each of the components was tested for its ability to modify the adjuvant action of pertussigen, it was found that only DNT interfered significantly with the adjuvanticity of pertussigen when given on the day of immunization with Ea. When the components were given 5 days before Ea, DNT produced significant suppression of only the IgG1 response. LPS, FHA, and K-agglutinogen did not significantly affect the adjuvant action of pertussigen.

Procedure for isolation of bacterial lipopolysaccharides from both smooth and rough Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium strains

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. It is now well established that within a single organism, size heterogeneity of this molecule can exist. We have developed a LPS isolation procedure which is effective in extracting both smooth and rough LPS in high yields (51 to 81% of the LPS present in whole cells as quantitated by using hydroxy fatty acid, heptose, and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate yields) and with a high degree of purity. The contamination by protein (0.1% by weight of LPS), nucleic acids (1%), lipids (2 to 5%), and other bacterial products was low. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the LPS demonstrated the presence of a high degree of size heterogeneity in the isolated smooth LPS as well as the presence of significant amounts of rough-type LPS. The Pseudomonas aeruginosa LPS interacted well with a monoclonal antibody in a variety of immunochemical analyses. The usefulness of the procedure was demonstrated by comparing LPS preparations obtained from wild-type and mutant strains of P. aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium. For example, it was shown that the LPS of an antibiotic supersusceptible mutant Z61 of P. aeruginosa, which was previously characterized as identical to wild type with respect to the ratio of smooth to rough LPS molecules isolated by the phenol-water procedure, actually contained only a small proportion of O-antigenic side chains.