The structural diversity of lipopolysaccharides expressed by genetically defined clinical isolates of nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae

<p>Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) is an important cause of otitis media and respiratory tract infections. Its lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule, an outer membrane component, is a major virulence factor of NTHi. The LPS molecule may also be an efficient target for antibodies which might be protective against NTHi disease.</p><p>The present thesis describes the structural analyses of the LPS from a number of NTHi clinical isolates. These isolates have been selected to be representative of the genetic diversity in the natural population of NTHi. The studies revealed extended inter- and intrastrain variability in LPS expression but also the presence of a conserved structural element. Several novel structural features were found, including epitopes not previously observed in Haemophilus influenzae LPS.</p><p>The studies were performed using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and different chemical degradations of the LPS as the principal methods.</p><h3>List of scientific papers</h3><p>I. Mansson M, Bauer SH, Hood DW, Richards JC, Moxon ER, Schweda EK (2001). A new structural type for Haemophilus influenzae lipopolysaccharide. Structural analysis of the lipopolysaccharide from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae strain 486. Eur J Biochem. 268(7): 2148-59. <br><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11277939">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11277939</a><br><br></p><p>II. Mansson M, Hood DW, Li J, Richards JC, Moxon ER, Schweda EK (2002). Structural analysis of the lipopolysaccharide from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae strain 1003. Eur J Biochem. 269(3): 808-18. <br><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11846782">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11846782</a><br><br></p><p>III. Mansson M, Hood DW, Moxon ER, Schweda EK (2003). Structural diversity in lipopolysaccharide expression in nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae. Identification of L-glycerol-D-manno-heptose in the outer-core region in three clinical isolates. Eur J Biochem. 270(4): 610-24. <br><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12581201">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12581201</a><br><br></p><p>IV. Mansson M, Hood DW, Moxon ER, Schweda EK (2003). Structural characterization of a novel branching pattern in the lipopolysaccharide from nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae. Eur J Biochem. 270(14): 2979-91. <br><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12846831">https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12846831</a><br><br></p>