In the O1 strain of Klebsiella, the
lipopolysaccharide (LPS)
O-antigen is composed of
D-galactan I and
D-galactan II. Although the composition of the O1
antigen of Klebsiella was resolved more than two decades, the genetic locus involved in the biosynthesis of
D-galactan II and the role of
D-galactan II in bacterial pathogenesis remain unclear. Here, we report the identification of the
D-galactan II-synthesizing genes by screening a transposon mutant library of an acapsulated Klebsiella pneumoniae O1 strain with bacteriophage. K. pneumoniae strain deleted for wbbY exhibited abrogated
D-galactan II production; altered serum resistance and attenuation of virulence. Serologic analysis of K. pneumoniae clinical isolates demonstrated that
D-galactan II was more prevalent in community-acquired
pyogenic liver abscess (PLA)-causing strains than in non-tissue-invasive strains. WbbY homologs, WbbZ homologs, and
lipopolysaccharide structures based on
D-galactan II also were present in several Gram-negative bacteria. Immunization of mice with the magA-mutant (K(-) 1 O1) (that is, with a LPS
D-galactan II-producing strain) provided protection against
infection with an O1:K2 PLA strain. Our findings indicate that both WbbY and WbbZ homologs are sufficient for the synthesis of
D-galactan II.
D-galactan II represents an immunodominant
antigen; is conserved among multiple species of Gram-negative bacteria and could be a useful
vaccine candidate.