Structure of the type 38 Streptococcus pneumoniae capsular polysaccharide

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the globally important encapsulated human pathogens and more than 100 different serotypes have been identified. Despite very extensive genetic and immune-serological studies, the capsular polysaccharide repeating unit structure of several serotypes has not been determined yet, including the type 38 (type 38 in Danish nomenclature; type 71 in US nomenclature). Physicochemical data revealed that type 38 polysaccharide is composed of a pentasaccharide repeat unit →3)-[β-D-Galf(1 → 2)]-β-D-GalpA6(L-Ser)-(1 → 3)-α-D-GlcpNAc-(1 → 3)-α-D-Sugp-(1 → 4)-α-D-Galp(2OAc)-(1 → . The polysaccharide is O-acetylated at position C₂ of the α-Gal residue at approximately (68-87 %) of the repeat units.