Expression and structural diversity of the lipopolysaccharide of Haemophilus influenzae : Implication in virulence

• Published in: International journal of medical microbiology 2007-09, Vol.297 (5), p.297-306
• Main Authors: Schweda, Elke K.H, Richards, James C, Hood, Derek W, Moxon, E. Richard
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Digalactoside; Haemophilus Infections - microbiology; Haemophilus influenzae; Haemophilus influenzae - chemistry; Haemophilus influenzae - genetics; Haemophilus influenzae - pathogenicity; Humans; Infectious Disease; Lipopolysaccharide; Lipopolysaccharides - biosynthesis; Lipopolysaccharides - chemistry; Medical Education; Molecular mimicry; Phosphocholine; Sialic acid; Virulence Factors - biosynthesis; Virulence Factors - chemistry
• ISSN: 1438-4221; 1618-0607
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2007.03.007

Abstract Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major virulence determinant of the human bacterial pathogen Haemophilus influenzae . A characteristic feature of H. influenzae LPS is the extensive intra- and inter-strain heterogeneity of glycoform structure which is key to the role of the molecule in both commensal and disease-causing behaviour of the bacterium. Through the combination of genetics and detailed structural analyses, H. influenzae is an exemplar Gram-negative bacterium for which now the most extensive and detailed LPS structural data and functional correlates are available. LPS from H. influenzae consists of a conserved glucose-substituted triheptosyl inner-core moiety l - α - d -Hep p -(1→2)-[ P Etn→6]- l - α - d -Hep p -(1→3)-[ β - d -Glc p -(1→4)]- l - α - d -Hep p linked to lipid A via Kdo 4-phosphate. The inner-core unit provides the template for attachment of oligosaccharide- and non-carbohydrate substituents. Here, the structure, genetics and expression of LPS glycoforms in the outer core are reviewed as well as their implication on virulence.