Detailed characterization of the lipid A fraction from the nonpathogen Acinetobacter radioresistens strain S13.

The genus Acinetobacter is composed of ubiquitous, generally nonpathogen environmental bacteria. Interest concerning these microorganisms has increased during the last 30 years, because some strains, belonging to the so-called A. baumannii-A. calcoaceticus complex, have been implicated in some severe pathological states in debilitated and hospitalized patients. The involvement of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) as virulence factors in infections by Acinetobacter has been proven, and ongoing studies are aimed toward the complete serological characterization of the O-polysaccharides from LPSs isolated in clinical samples. Conversely, no characterization of the lipid A fraction from Acinetobacter strains has been performed. Here, the detailed structure of the lipid A fraction from A. radioresistens S13 is reported for the first time. A. radioresistens strains have never been isolated in cases of infectious disease. Nevertheless, it is known that the lipid A structure, with minor variations, is highly conserved across the genus; thus, structural details acquired from studies of this nonpathogen strain represent a useful basis for further studies of pathogen species.