Structures of the O-antigens of Proteus bacilli belonging to OX group (serogroups O1-O3) used in Weil-Felix test

FEBS Lett. 1997 Jul 14;411(2-3):221-4. doi: 10.1016/s0014-5793(97)00694-7.

Abstract

Structures of the O-specific polysaccharide chains of lipopolysaccharides from Proteus group OX strains (serogroups O1-O3) used as antigens in Weil-Felix test for diagnosis of rickettsiosis, were established. From them, the acid-labile polysaccharide of Proteus vulgaris OX19 (O1) is built up of the following branched pentasaccharide repeating units connected via a phosphate group: [structure in text] where QuiNAc stands for 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxyglucose (N-acetylquinovosamine). The basis of serospecificity of the Proteus group OX antigens and their cross-reactivity with human anti-rickettsial antibodies is discussed.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Bacterial / immunology
  • Carbohydrate Conformation
  • Carbohydrate Sequence
  • Cross Reactions
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Monosaccharides / analysis
  • O Antigens / chemistry*
  • O Antigens / immunology
  • Oligosaccharides / chemistry
  • Proteus mirabilis / classification
  • Proteus mirabilis / immunology*
  • Proteus vulgaris / classification
  • Proteus vulgaris / immunology*
  • Rickettsia / immunology
  • Rickettsia Infections / diagnosis
  • Rickettsia Infections / immunology
  • Serologic Tests
  • Sugar Phosphates / chemistry

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Monosaccharides
  • O Antigens
  • Oligosaccharides
  • Sugar Phosphates