Title: Kingella kingae Expresses Four Structurally Distinct Polysaccharide Capsules That Differ in Their Correlation with Invasive Disease

Abstract

Kingella kingae is an encapsulated gram-negative organism that is a common cause of osteoarticular infections in young children. In earlier work, we identified a glycosyltransferase gene called csaA that is necessary for synthesis of the [3)-β-GalpNAc-(1→5)-β-Kdop-(2→] polysaccharide capsule (type a) in K. kingae strain 269–492. In the current study, we analyzed a large collection of invasive and carrier isolates from Israel and found that csaA was present in only 47% of the isolates. Further examination of this collection using primers based on the sequence that flanks csaA revealed three additional gene clusters (designated the csb, csc, and csd loci), all encoding predicted glycosyltransferases. The csb locus contains the csbA, csbB, and csbC genes and is associated with a capsule that is a polymer of [6)-α-GlcpNAc-(1→5)-β-(8-OAc)Kdop-(2→] (type b). The csc locus contains the cscA, cscB, and cscC genes and is associated with a capsule that is a polymer of [3)-β-Ribf-(1→2)-β-Ribf-(1→2)-β-Ribf-(1→4)-β-Kdop-(2→] (type c). The csd locus contains the csdA, csdB, and csdC genes and is associated with a capsule that is a polymer of [P-(O→3)[β-Galp-(1→4)]-β-GlcpNAc-(1→3)-α-GlcpNAc-1-] (type d). Introduction of the csa, csb, csc, and csd loci into strain KK01Δcsa, a strain 269–492 derivative that lacks the native csaA gene, was sufficient tomore » produce the type a capsule, type b capsule, type c capsule, and type d capsule, respectively, indicating that these loci are solely responsible for determining capsule type in K. kingae. Further analysis demonstrated that 96% of the invasive isolates express either the type a or type b capsule and that a disproportionate percentage of carrier isolates express the type c or type d capsule. Lastly, these results establish that there are at least four structurally distinct K. kingae capsule types and suggest that capsule type plays an important role in promoting K. kingae invasive disease« less

Authors:

Starr, Kimberly F. ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Starr, Kimberly F."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-0101-7969"

Porsch, Eric A.; Seed, Patrick C.; Heiss, Christian; Naran, Radnaa; Forsberg, L. Scott ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Forsberg, L. Scott"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-6905-2760"

Amit, Uri; Yagupsky, Pablo; Azadi, Parastoo; St. Geme, Joseph W.; Mitchell, ed., Timothy J.

Publication Date:

Wed Oct 19 00:00:00 EDT 2016

Research Org.:

Univ. of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE

OSTI Identifier:

1336892

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1365836

Grant/Contract Number:  

FG02-93ER20097

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

PLoS Pathogens

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: PLoS Pathogens Journal Volume: 12 Journal Issue: 10; Journal ID: ISSN 1553-7374

Publisher:

Public Library of Science (PLoS)

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES