Lipopolysaccharides of bacterial pathogens from the genus Yersinia: a mini-review.

This review summarizes the state of knowledge on the composition and structure of the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from three species of Yersinia known to produce disease in humans: Y. pseudotuberculosis, Y. enterocolitica and Y.

A recA gene phylogenetic analysis confirms the close proximity of Frankia to Acidothermus.

The closer proximity of Frankia and Acidothermus cellulolyticus relative to the morphologically close Geodermatophilus found previously was confirmed by resequencing the rrs gene of Acidothermus cellulolyticus and the housekeeping gene, recA. The diagnostic sugar 2-O-methyl-D-mannose was detected only in Frankia, while hopanoid lipids were present at high levels in both Acidothermus and Frankia.

Novel variation of lipid A structures in strains of different Yersinia species.

The Yersinia genus includes human and animal pathogens (plague, enterocolitis). The fine structures of the endotoxin lipids A of seven strains of Yersinia enterocolitica, Yersinia ruckeri and Yersinia pestis were determined and compared using mass spectrometry. These lipids differed in secondary acylation at C-2': this was dodecanoic acid (C(12)) for two strains of Y.

Structural studies of the extracellular beta-D-glucans from Phytophthora parasitica Dastur.

Several extracellular glucans have been isolated from Phytophthora parasitica Dastur, a phytopathogenic fungus of the carnation. These polysaccharides consist of a mixture of (1-->3)(1-->6)-beta-D-glucans whose molecular masses varied from 1 x 10(4) to 5 x 10(6) Da. All of these polysaccharides have a main chain of beta-(1-->3)-linked D-glucose residues substituted with mono-, di- and oligo-saccharidic chains attached through (1-->6) linkages.

[Isolation and chemical characterization of type R lipopolysaccharides of a hypovirulent strain of Yersinia pestis].

The lipopolysaccharides LPS I and LPS II, isolated from the hypovirulent EV40 strain of Yersinia pestis, are composed only of type R lipopolysaccharides. This type consists of two forms a and b, depending on their solubility pattern in a solvent mixture containing varying proportions of chloroform, methanol, hexane, and hydrochloric acid. LPS I consists of one subtype, RIb, while LPS II consists of two subtypes, RIIa and RIIb.

Isolation and characterization of inositol sphingophospholipids from Phytophthora parasitica Dastur.

Several inositol sphingophospholipids (ISPL) were isolated from mycelia of Phytophthora parasitica Dastur, a phytopathogenic fungus of carnation. The ISPL structures were determined by fast atom bombardment. All ISPL consisted of ceramides linked to inositol phosphate.

Characterization of the lipopolysaccharides from Rhizobium meliloti strain 102F51 and its nonnodulating mutant WL113.

Lipopolysaccharides from the Rhizobium meliloti wild-type strain 102F51, which is effective in symbiosis with alfalfa, and from the nonnodulating mutant WL113, defective in root hair adhesion, derived thereof, were isolated and comparatively analyzed. Both preparations were composed of galactose, glucose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glucosamine, 3-deoxyheptulosaric acid, and 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid as the major sugar constitutents. After a modified methylation analysis (consisting of the following consecutive steps: methylation, carboxyl reduction, remethylation, mild acid hydrolysis, reduction, and trideuterio-methylation), all of the 3-deoxyheptulosaric and some of the 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid residues were converted into their corresponding 3-deoxyalditol derivatives, which carried trideuteriomethyl groups at positions C-2, C-4, and C-6.

Structural features of fungal beta-D-glucans for the efficient inhibition of the initiation of virus infection on Nicotiana tabacum.

Glucans of fungal origin have been shown to inhibit the early stages of infection of Nicotiana by numerous viruses of different taxonomic groups. Several glucans were isolated from the cell walls of Phytophthora parasitica, Phytophthora megasperma f. sp.

Elicitin produced by an isolate of Phytophthora parasitica pathogenic to tobacco.

Elicitin was prepared from a Phytophthora parasitica culture isolated from tobacco in Australia. The protein with elicitor activity was purified and sequenced. This protein, which contains 98 amino acid residues, shows full homology with an elicitin produced by a completely unrelated isolate from carnation, indicating conservation of elicitin sequence within a single species.

Composition and immunogenicity of the polysaccharide components of the thermostable macromolecular antigen group of mycobacterial antigens.

The thermostable macromolecular antigen (TMA) group includes major components of the mycobacterial cell envelope and cytoplasm, which elicit humoral and cellular immune reactions, and seems to play important roles in infectious diseases. The best known member of this group, antigen A60 of Mycobacterium bovis BCG, was previously shown to contain three moieties of polysaccharides, free lipids, and polypeptides. In this work, the TMA polysaccharides of three pathogenic mycobacteria (M.

Structural investigations and biological activity of inositol sphingophospholipids from Phytophthora capsici.

Inositol sphingophospholipids that protect pepper (Capsicum annuum c.v. Yolo Wonder) against pathogen have been isolated by chromatographic methods from the mycelium of Phytophthora capsici.

Structure and activity of proteins from pathogenic fungi Phytophthora eliciting necrosis and acquired resistance in tobacco.

The phytopathogenic fungi Phytophthora cryptogea and Phytophthora capsici cause systemic leaf necrosis on their non-host tobacco; in culture they release proteins, called cryptogein and capsicein, which elicit similar necrosis. In addition, both proteins protect tobacco against invasion by the pathogen Phytophthora nicotianac, the agent of the tobacco black shank, that is unable to produce such an elicitor. Cryptogein causes visible leaf necrosis starting at about 1 microgram/plant, whereas 50-fold as much capsicein is required for the same reaction.

Studies on the hexose region of the lipopolysaccharide from a low virulence strain of Salmonella typhimurium.

The structure of the hexose region of the lipopolysaccharide from M206 strain, a mutant of Salmonella typhimurium having reduced virulence, was partially determined. Immunological tests indicated cross-reactions of anti-(M206) antiserum with wild-type C5 and Ra mutant strains. Data obtained on chemical composition, periodate oxidation, acetolysis, methylation and analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry show that M206 type lipopolysaccharide contains the common core polysaccharide of Salmonella which was substituted in position 4 of the subterminal glucose unit by a disaccharide: D-glucosyl 1----3 D-galactose.

Chemical composition of antigen 60 from Mycobacterium bovis BCG.

Antigen 60 (A60), the main thermostable immunogen of tuberculin and PPD, has been purified from Mycobacterium bovis BCG cytoplasm, and identified by crossed immunoelectrophoresis with anti-BCG polyclonal antiserum. Two A60 fractions, free lipids and lipid-conjugated compounds, have been recognized. The free lipids represented about 30% (dry weight), and consisted essentially of C16-C18 fatty acids, and of phosphatidyl-inositol-mannosides.

Lipopolysaccharides from Yersinia pestis. Studies on lipid A of lipopolysaccharides I and II.

The chemical structure of the lipid A of lipopolysaccharide I and II from Yersinia pestis, strain EV 40, was studied. It consists of a (1 ---- 6), beta-linked D-glucosamine disaccharide which carries two phosphate groups; one phosphate is linked glycosidically with a glucosamine unit, the other one is linked to the non-reducing glucosamine. Various degradation methods combined with 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that the ester-bound phosphate group is linked to a 4-aminoarabinosyl residue and the glycosidically linked phosphate group is linked to a D-arabinofuranosyl residue in lipopolysaccharide II and to the phosphorylethanolamine in lipopolysaccharide I.

[Isolation and structural studies of glucans from Phytophthora parasitica].

Several polysaccharides have been isolated from the cell walls of Phytophthora parasitica, a phytopathogenic fungus of carnation. The crude polysaccharides were fractionated by successive chromatographies on DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-25, concanavalin-A-Sepharose and Sephadex G-200 columns. The neutral polysaccharides consist of a mixture of beta(1----3, 1----6)-D-glucans whose relative molecular masses varied from 9000 to about 200 000.

[Structure of the heptose region of the lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli K12 CR34 (author's transl)].

The heptose region of the lipopolysaccharide of Escherichia coli K12 CR34 was studied. The glucose linked to the heptose II was found to be substituted by a D-galactose and the linear chain of the core polysaccharide has two (1 lead to 3) linked heptoses. The heptose II is substituted by a lateral (1 leads to 7) linked heptose III and heptose I is linked in (1 leads to 5) to 2-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid.

[Structure of chrysantellin B, a new saponin isolated from Chrysanthellum procumbens Rich (author's transl)].

A new saponin, chrysantellin B, has been found in a tropical plant Chrysanthellum procumbens Rich as a minor companion of chrysantellin A which was previously studied. The structure of chrysantellin B was determined by mass spectrometry, proton and 13C nuclear-magnetic resonance. The aglycone part is a triterpene: 3 beta, 16 alpha, 23-trihydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid or caulophyllogenin.

Structure of a new saponin: chrysantellin A from Chrysanthellum procumbens Rich.

A new saponin has been isolated from a tropical plant Chrysantellum procumbens Rich. which is thought to be useful in the therapy of digestive troubles. The structure of this saponin was determined by chemical methods, nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry.

[Study of the lipopolysaccharide from a thermosensitive mutant CR-34 T 83 of Escherichia coli K 12].

The structure of the core of the lipopolysaccharide from T 83 mutant of Escherichia coli K 12 CR 34 was partially determined. Using dephosphorylation, enzymic hydrolysis, Smith degradation, methylations and analysis by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry an oligosaccharide sequence was determined with D-glucose, D-galactose and L-glycero-D-mannoheptose as sugar components. The structure which was demonstrated could be that of the characteristic core fragment of the K 12 type lipopolysaccharides from Escherichia coli.