Discovery of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 6 variants with glycosyltransferases synthesizing two differing repeating units.

ABSTRACT: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a persistent, opportunistic commensal of the human nasopharynx and is the leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia. It expresses an anti-phagocytic capsular polysaccharide (PS). Genetic variation of the capsular PS synthesis (cps) locus is the molecular basis for structural and antigenic heterogeneity of capsule types (serotypes). Serogroup 6 has four known members (6A-6D) with distinct serologic properties, homologous cps loci, and structurally similar PSs. cps of serotypes 6A/6B have wciNα, encoding α-1,3-galactosyltransferase, whereas serotypes 6C/6D have wciNβ encoding α-1,3-glucosyltransferase. Two atypical serogroup 6 isolates (named 6X11 and 6X12) have been discovered recently in Germany. Flow cytometric studies using monoclonal antibodies show that

SUBMITTER: Oliver MB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3764802 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature