Skip to main content
ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Produce Safety and Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #229342
Title: Campylobacter jejuni Lipooligosaccharides: Structures and Biosynthesis

Author
item GILBERT, M. - NRC, CANADA
item Parker, Craig
item MORAN, A - NATIONAL UNIV. IRELAND

Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/12/2008
Publication Date: 5/1/2008
Citation: Gilbert, M., Parker, C., Moran, A.P. 2008. Campylobacter jejuni Lipooligosaccharides: Structures and Biosynthesis. In: Nachamkin, I, Szymanski, C.M., Blaser, M.J., editors. Campylobacter. 3rd Edition. Washington, DC: ASM Press. p. 483-504.

Interpretive Summary: Pathogenic bacteria have cell-surface glycoconjugates such as capsules, glycosylated flagellins, glycosylated surface-layer proteins and, in gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or lipooligosaccharides (LOS). The variability of cell surface poly- or oligosaccharides plays a major role in virulence in mucosal pathogens. Campylobacter jejuni, as an intestinal mucosal colonizer and an important causal agent of acute gastroenteritis in humans, has been shown to have variable expression of cell surface carbohydrates. The chapter reviews the structure, biosynthesis and genetic determination of C. jejuni LOSs, with particular reference to the core oligosaccharide region. In particular, the genetic bases for variation of the outer core are discussed, including gene content variation between LOS loci and mechanisms generating LOS core region variation.

Technical Abstract: Many pathogenic bacteria have cell-surface glycoconjugates such as capsules, glycosylated flagellins, glycosylated surface-layer proteins and, in gram-negative bacteria, lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or lipooligosaccharides (LOS). The variability of cell surface poly- or oligosaccharides plays a major role in virulence in mucosal pathogens. Campylobacter jejuni, as an intestinal mucosal colonizer and an important causal agent of acute gastroenteritis in humans, has been shown to have variable expression of cell surface carbohydrates. In general, LPSs and LOSs are a family of phosphorylated lipoglycans and glycolipids; respectively, that are considered toxic with potent immunomodulating and immune-stimulating properties. Like certain other bacterial pathogens of mucosa, C. jejuni produces LOS that displays considerable inter-strain variation in the structure of its outer core. The chapter reviews the structure, biosynthesis and genetic determination of C. jejuni LOSs, with particular reference to the core oligosaccharide region. In particular, the genetic bases for variation of the outer core are discussed, including gene content variation between LOS loci and mechanisms generating LOS core region variation.