POLYSACCHARIDE ANTIGENS OF PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA

The major polysaccharide antigens of P. aeruginosa are the cell-wall lipopolysaccharides many of which have an acidic polysaccharide chain (O-antigen) rich in unusual amino sugars. The D-rhamnose-rich polysaccharide antigen common to many serologically distinct strains is also associated with the lipo-polysaccharide. The high-molecular-weight polysaccharides with O-specificity are present in extracellular slime produced by strains isolated from the environmental and from the im-munocompromised hosts. The extracellular antigenic polysaccharide of another type (bacterial alginate) is expressed by mucoid strains isolated from patients with cystic fibrosis. Ser-otype-specific immune responses after infection are directed at the lipopolysaccharides and these heat-stable antigens serve as the basis for differentiation P. aeruginosa strains. Both the cell-wall antigens including conjugates of the O-polysaccha-rides with different proteins and the extracellular antigens have been used to prepare specific antibodies tested for protection against infections due to P. aeruginosa. © 1990 Informa UK Ltd All rights reserved: reproduction in whole or part not permitted.