Discovery of a new capsular serotype (6C) within serogroup 6 of Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Using two monoclonal antibodies, we found subtypes among pneumococcal isolates that are typed as serotype 6A by the quellung reaction. The prevalent subtype bound to both monoclonal antibodies and was labeled here 6Aalpha, whereas the minor subtype bound to only one monoclonal antibody and was labeled 6Abeta. To determine the biochemical nature of the two serologically defined subtypes, we purified capsular polysaccharides (PSs) from the two subtypes and examined their chemical structures with gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. The study results for 6Aalpha PS are consistent with the previously published structure of 6A PS, which is -->2) galactose (1-->3) glucose (1-->3) rhamnose (1-->3) ribitol (5-->phosphate. In contrast, the 6Abeta PS study results show that its repeating unit is -->2) glucose 1 (1-->3) glucose 2 (1-->3) rhamnose (1-->3) ribitol (5-->phosphate. We propose to continue referring to 6Aalpha as serotype 6A but to refer to 6Abeta as serotype 6C. Serotype 6C would thus represent the 91st pneumococcal serotype, with 90 pneumococcal serotypes having previously been recognized. This study also demonstrates that a new serotype may exist within an established and well-characterized serogroup or serotype.
Park
In Ho
IH
Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 845 19th Street South (BBRB 614), Birmingham, AL 35294, USA. nahm@uab.edu
Pritchard
David G
DG
Cartee
Rob
R
Brandao
Angela
A
Brandileone
Maria Cristina C
MC
Nahm
Moon H
MH
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D016667:Bacterial Capsules / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D015394:Molecular Structure; D012703:Serotyping; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal