Structure of the major O-specific polysaccharide from the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas fluorescens BIM B-582: identification of 4-deoxy-D-xylo-hexose as a component of bacterial polysaccharides.

A novel constituent of bacterial polysaccharides, 4-deoxy-D-xylo-hexose (D-4dxylHex), was found in the major O-specific polysaccharide from the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudomonas fluorescens BIM B-582. D-4dxylHex was isolated in the free state by paper chromatography after full acid hydrolysis of the polysaccharide and identified by GLC-mass spectrometry, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, and specific rotation. It occurs as a lateral substituent in ∼40% of the oligosaccharide repeating units, making the polysaccharide devoid of strict regularity.

Bacteriophage receptors, mechanisms of phage adsorption and penetration into host cell.

Bacteriophages are an attractive tool for application in the therapy of bacterial infections, for biological control of bacterial contamination of foodstuffs in the alimentary industry, in plant protection, for control of water-borne pathogens, and control of environmental microflora. This review is mainly focused on structures governing phage recognition of host cell and mechanisms of phage adsorption and penetration into microbial cell.