title: Structure and genetic basis of Yersinia similis serotype O:9 O-specific polysaccharide.
abstract: The O-polysaccharide (OPS, O-Ag) cap of LPS is a major virulence factor of Yersinia species and also serves as a receptor for the binding of lytic bacteriophage φR1-37. Currently, the OPS-based serotyping scheme for the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex includes 21 known O-serotypes that follow three distinct lineages: Y. pseudotuberculosis sensu stricto, Y. similis and the Korean group of strains. Elucidation of the Y. pseudotuberculosis complex OPS structures and characterization of the OPS genetics (altogether 18 O-serotypes studied thus far) allows a better understanding of the relationships among the various O serotypes and will facilitate the analysis of the evolutionary processes giving rise to new serotypes. Here we present the characterization of the OPS structure and gene cluster of Y. similis O:9. Bacteriophage φR1-37, which uses the Y. similis O:9 OPS as a receptor, also infects a number of Y. enterocolitica serotypes, including O:3, O:5,27, O:9 and O:50. The Y. similis O:9 OPS structure resembled none of the receptor structures of the Y. enterocolitica strains, suggesting that φR1-37 can recognize several surface receptors, thus promoting broad host specificity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Structural Biochemistry, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beczała
authors.affiliation: N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Olga G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Ovchinnikova
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Research Programs Unit, Immunobiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Neeta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Datta
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Research Programs Unit, Immunobiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mattinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Research Programs Unit, Immunobiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Knapska
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Radziejewska-Lebrecht
authors.affiliation: Division of Structural Biochemistry, Research Center Borstel, Leibniz-Center for Medicine and Biosciences, Airway Research Center North (ARCN), Borstel, Germany.
authors.forename: Otto
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Holst
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Haartman Institute, and Research Programs Unit, Immunobiology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland Helsinki University Central Hospital Laboratory Diagnostics, Helsinki, Finland Mikael.skurnik@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Skurnik
mesh_terms: D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000187:drug effects; D019175:DNA Methylation; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005810:Multigene Family; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D015007:Yersinia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D011134:Polysaccharides; D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: Lipopolysaccharide; O-polysaccharide structure; Yersinia similis; bacteriophage; gene cluster