Degradation studies on Escherichia coli capsular polysaccharides by bacteriophages.

The serologically and structurally related Eschrichia coli capsular polysaccharides (K antigens) K13, K20, and K23 were found to be depolymerized by the bacteriophages phi K13 and phi K20 to almost similar oligomer profiles as shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The phage-polysaccharide interactions were followed by an increase of reducing 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid due to a phage-associated glycanase that catalyzed the hydrolytic cleavage of common beta-ketopyranosidic 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonic acid linkages. The related E.

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 52, using the computerised approach CASPER and NMR spectroscopy.

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 52 has been elucidated using an improved and extended version of the computerised approach CASPER and NMR spectroscopy as principal methods. A previous suggestion to the structure but without the anomeric prefixes, could be shown correct [H. Björndal et al.

Characterization of urinary Escherichia coli O75 strains.

Forty-four Escherichia coli O75 strains from patients with urinary tract infections were characterized by a variety of methods to obtain evidence of their clonal distribution and uropathogenic properties. By K and H antigen typing, the strains were divided into the following serotypes: O75:K5:H- (18 strains), O75:K95:H- (10 strains), O75:K95:H5 (7 strains), O75:K100:H5 (4 strains), and O75:K-:H55 (5 strains). Generally, biotyping proved to be of no discriminative value.

Structure of the capsular polysaccharide from the Klebsiella K8 reference strain 1015.

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from the Klebsiella K8 reference strain 1015 has been elucidated. The structure was deduced from sugar analysis, different methylation analyses, a uronic acid degradation, and NMR spectroscopy. It is concluded that the polysaccharide is composed of pentasaccharide repeating units with the structure: [formula: see text] The structure differs from that of the previously published structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella K8, which originates from another strain and has the following structure: [formula: see text] The serological similarity between the two strains is most likely derived from a common tetrasaccharide which is substituted in different ways in the two strains.

Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 7.

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide elaborated by Klebsiella type 7 has been investigated. NMR spectroscopy together with sugar and methylation analysis have been the main methods used. A uronic acid degradation was also employed.

Detection of Escherichia coli K95 strains by bacteriophages.

A set of three bacteriophages (phi K5, phi K20, and phi K95) was used to discriminate between Escherichia coli K5 and K95 strains isolated from patients with urinary tract infections. All the strains tested were detected primarily by phi K5 and thought to carry the capsular antigen K5. Ten O2, 33 O6, and 32 O18 strains proved to be sensitive to the three phages.

Bacteriophages specifically recognizing the lipopolysaccharide antigens O4, O5, O6, and O7 of Escherichia coli.

Four bacteriophages recognizing the Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigens O4, O5, O6, and O7, respectively, were isolated from pooled sewage samples. Electron microscopic investigations revealed icosahedral phage structures. Phages phi O4, phi O5, and phi O7 belonged to Bradley's morphology group C, while phi O6 had a tail and resembles phages of group A of Bradley.

Structural studies of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type 38: a reinvestigation.

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type K38 has been reinvestigated. It is composed of pentasaccharide repeating units of the structure given below. In this structure, Sug stands for a 4-deoxy-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid group, most probably having the beta-L configuration.

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella K43.

The structure of the capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella type K43 has been investigated using sugar and methylation analysis, uronic acid degradation, and NMR spectroscopy on the native and the O-deacetylated polysaccharide. It is concluded that the polysaccharide is composed of pentasaccharide repeating units with the structure [formula: see text] The polysaccharide contains approximately 0.4 equiv of O-acetyl group per repeating unit, located at a primary position.

Binding studies of a monoclonal antibody specific for 3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid with a panel of Klebsiella pneumoniae lipopolysaccharides representing all of the O serotypes.

A monoclonal antibody (MAb) raised against Salmonella minnesota R595 and specific for alpha-3-deoxy-D-manno-octulosonic acid (alpha-Kdo) of the inner core was tested for binding to lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of Klebsiella pneumoniae. The MAb was tested in several assay systems (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, passive hemolysis, and inhibition of passive hemolysis) with a large panel (n = 23) of K. pneumoniae LPS representing all nine currently known O serotypes.

Isolation and characterization of bacteriophages specific for capsular antigens K3, K7, K12, and K13 of Escherichia coli.

Four bacteriophages recognizing the Escherichia coli capsular antigens K3, K7, K12, and K13, respectively, were isolated from pooled sewage samples. The nucleic acid of these phages was identified as double-stranded DNA of different size (phi K3, 71.3; phi K7, 32.

Two different Escherichia coli capsular polysaccharide depolymerases each associated with one of the coliphage phi K5 and phi K20.

The Escherichia coli capsular polysaccharides (K antigens) K5 and K20 are known as primary receptors for the coliphage phi K5 and phi K20, respectively. A host range study of the phage revealed that E. coli K5 strains were not only lysed by phi K5 but also by phi K20, and furthermore that the E.

Structural studies of the extracellular polysaccharide elaborated by Azotobacter vinelandii strain 1484.

The structure of the extracellular polysaccharide from Azotobacter vinelandii strain 1484 has been investigated, specific degradations and n.m.r.

[Determining the pattern of outer membrane proteins of gram-negative bacteria as a contribution to complex typing].

The aim of these investigations was to study relations between the serotype of E. coli strains and the pattern of their outer membrane proteins ("OMP") in sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Three groups of strains being well characterized at least serologically (01, 02, 018ac containing different K, H, and in part F antigens) were submitted to this analysis.

Bacteriophage-associated glycan hydrolases specific for Escherichia coli capsular serotype K12.

Four bacteriophages were identified, which carry glycan hydrolases specific for the Escherichia coli K12 capsular polysaccharide. All these glycanases catalyze the hydrolysis of the alpha-L-rhamnosyl-1,5-beta-3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid linkage as demonstrated with a special thiobarbituric acid assay procedure, which discriminates between the C5 substituted and unsubstituted 3-deoxy-D-manno-2-octulosonic acid (dOclA). This assay, together with gel filtration, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy showed that depolymerization led to the dimer of the K12 repeating unit, (,5-beta-dOcl1Ap-2,3-alpha-LRhap-1,2-alpha LRhap-1,)2, as the primary degradation product.

[Hemagglutinating ability and fimbrial antigens of Escherichia coli strains isolated from urine].

The close connection between mannose-resistant hemagglutination (MRHA) and adhesion to uroepithelial cells of urinary E. coli with regard to the pathogenesis of urinary tract infection (UTI) prompted us to examine the hemagglutinating ability of 1499 E. coli strains from urine using human blood group OP1 erythrocytes.

[Rapid typing of Escherichia coli K antigens using bacteriophages].

E. coli capsular (K) antigens are important virulence factors contributing to the development of urinary tract infections (UTI). Serotyping of these antigens is laborious and depends on the availability of respective antisera which are difficult to prepare because of the low immunogenicity of these polysaccharide antigens.

[Excretion of antibody-coated bacteria in chronic pyelonephritis].

Of 168 urine sediments, which were obtained from 55 patients with chronic pyelonephritis in the course of 3 years when a significant bacteriuria with E. coli was present, we demonstrated antibody-coated bacteria in 81 cases (48.21%).

Isolation and characterization of the non-fimbrial adhesin NFA-4 from uropathogenic Escherichia coli O7:K98:H6.

The non-fimbrial adhesin NFA-4 from uropathogenic Escherichia coli O7:K98:H6 mediates the agglutination of human red cells (RBC), notably of blood group MM. The adhesin can be separated from the bacteria by heat extraction and was purified to homogeneity by ammonium sulphate precipitation and anion exchange chromatography in the presence of 8 M urea. NFA-4 consists of non-covalently linked 28 kDa subunits which tend to form aggregates of an apparent molecular weight in excess of 10(6) Da.

Induction of histamine release from rat mast cells and human basophilic granulocytes by clinical Escherichia coli isolates and relation to hemolysin production and adhesin expression.

We investigated the role of 27 disease-relevant Escherichia coli strains isolated from humans in the induction of histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells and human basophilic granulocytes. Our data indicated that only the hemolysin-positive (HLY+) bacteria and the hemolysin-positive culture supernatants induced histamine release. For the latter, the hemolysin activity determined the degree of histamine secretion.

[O- and H-antigens of Escherichia coli K5 isolates in the urine].

88 E. coli-K5-strains identified by a K5-phage were serotyped with regard to O- and H-antigens and 19 different O:K5:H-serotypes were registered. Further 11 isolates were rough strains and 2 other strains could not be O-typed.

Studies on clonal assignment of urinary Escherichia coli O1:K1 strains.

Fifty-nine Escherichia coli strains belonging to two clonal groupings were investigated for major outer membrane proteins, colicin production, and partly for plasmid DNA content. The membrane protein patterns of the 01:K1:H7(H-):F11 and O1:K1:H-:F9 strains obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were distinctly different from each other and, therefore, are useful for clonal assignment. All of the F11 isolates had one plasmid of about 85 Md in common which is suggested to be characteristic for the clone.

Effect of immunization with Escherichia coli K1 antigen on the course of experimental infection of the urinary tract of the rat.

The influence of vaccination with an immunogenic K1 antigen of Escherichia coli on the course of pyelonephritis induced experimentally in rats by infection with Escherichia coli O2:K1:H4 was investigated. The immunogenic properties of K1 antigen are poor. A conjugate of K1 antigen with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was therefore tested.

[Modification by cyclophosphamide of the effect of autovaccination in chronic pyelonephritis in an animal experiment].

In an existing chronic pyelonephritis the influence of cyclophosphamide on the efficacy of an immunisation with autopathogenic antigens and the surface antigen of an E. coli rough strain was tested in an animal experiment. After an existence of the infection of about five weeks a decisive decrease of the antibody production by cyclophosphamide was not to be observed.