The capsule and O antigen in Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal are associated with a genetic region not present in Vibrio cholerae O1.
Vibrio cholerae O139 Bengal, although closely related to V. cholerae O1 El Tor, produces a polysaccharide capsule and has a distinct O antigen. We have identified a chromosomal region of at least 11 kb, as defined by three TnphoA mutations, that is required for the expression of both polysaccharides. Electron microscopy and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis show that these TnphoA mutants have lost the abilities both to express capsule and to produce lipopolysaccharide beyond the core oligosaccharide. Reactivity with O139 typing serum and resistance to serum are also lost in the mutants. DNA probes for this region do not hybridize with O1 V. cholerae but do react with other vibrios, implying that the region was recently acquired.
Comstock
L E
LE
Center for Vaccine Development, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
Maneval
D
D
Panigrahi
P
P
Joseph
A
A
Levine
M M
MM
Kaper
J B
JB
Morris
J G
JG
Johnson
J A
JA
D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001483:Base Sequence; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D019081:O Antigens; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D013045:Species Specificity; D014734:Vibrio cholerae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019081:O Antigens; D015345:Oligonucleotide Probes; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial