Electrophoretic analysis of the lipopolysaccharides of Bacteroides spp.
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extracts of reference strains and isolates of Bacteroides spp. prepared by the proteinase K method were resolved by tricine-sodium-dodecyl-sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and located by silver staining. A considerable diversity of LPS profiles was evident within the Bacteroides genus although profiles were essentially species-specific, with some minor interstrain variations apparent among isolates of B. uniformis, B. ovatus, B. eggerthii and B. thetaiotaomicron. The LPS of most species consisted of a major rough LPS component of 2-5 kDa and a series of higher molecular weight bands which varied with species. B. vulgatus LPS was distinctive in showing an extensive ladder of multiple repeating oligosaccharide units with molecular weights ranging from 4 to > 17 kDa B. stercoris LPS included a high molecular weight (> 17 kDa) ladder of repeating oligosaccharide units. B. fragilis and B. thetaiotaomicron differed from most other species in producing a short ladder of repeating oligosaccharide units interspersing the rough LPS and a 5.6 kDa (B. fragilis) or 9 kDa (B. thetaiotaomicron) yellow-staining component. The heterogeneity of LPS profiles within the Bacteroides genus may reflect the differences in pathogenicity among the species and prove useful for typing.
Maskell
J P
JP
Department of Medical Microbiology, London Hospital Medical College, Whitechapel, UK.
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000145:classification; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D013045:Species Specificity
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009844:Oligosaccharides