Phase variable acetylation of lipooligosaccharide modifies antibody production and opsonophagocytic killing of non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae.

ABSTRACT: Non-typeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) causes millions of infections each year. Though it is primarily known to cause otitis media, recent studies have shown NTHi is emerging as a primary pathogen for invasive infection, prompting the need for new vaccines and treatments. Lipooligosaccharide (LOS) has been identified as a potential vaccine candidate due to its immunogenic nature and outer membrane localization. Yet, phase variable expression of genes involved in LOS synthesis has complicated vaccine development. In this study, we used a chinchilla model of otitis media to investigate how phase variation of oafA, a gene involved in LOS biosynthesis, affects antibody production in response to infection. We found that acetylation of LOS by OafA inhibited production of LOS-sp

SUBMITTER: Wills BM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10505976 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature