Dominant antibody responses to Fucalpha1-3GalNAc and Fucalpha1-2Fucalpha1-3GlcNAc containing carbohydrate epitopes in Pan troglodytes vaccinated and infected with Schistosoma mansoni.

The development of the humoral anti-glycan immune response of chimpanzees, either or not vaccinated with radiation-attenuated Schistosoma mansoni cercariae, was followed during 1 year after infection with S. mansoni. During the acute phase of infection both the vaccinated and the control chimpanzees produce high levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against carbohydrate structures that are characteristic for schistosomes carrying the Fucalpha1-3GalNAc and Fucalpha1-2Fucalpha1-3GlcNAc motifs, but not to the more widespread occurring structures GalNAcbeta1-4GlcNAc, GalNAcbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcNAc, and Galbeta1-4(Fucalpha1-3)GlcNAc (Lewis(x)). In addition, high levels of IgM antibodies were found against the trimeric Lewis(x) epitope. Apparently, the schistosome-characteristic carbohydrate structures are dominant epitopes in the anti-glycan humoral immune response of the chimpanzees. All chimpanzees showed an increase in the level of antibodies against most of the carbohydrate structures tested directly after vaccination, peaking at challenge time and during the acute phase of infection. With the exception of anti-F-LDN antibody responses, the anti-carbohydrate antibody responses upon schistosome infection of the vaccinated animals were muted in comparison to the control animals.

Anomalous Zemplén deacylation reactions of alpha- and beta-D-mannopyranoside derivatives.

Reaction of mono-, di-, and trisaccharide derivatives of methyl beta-D- and octyl beta-D-mannopyranosides bearing ester groups at isolated and non-isolated positions on the same molecule, under Zemplén conditions (catalytic amount of sodium methoxide in methanol) gave partially deacylated compounds, in which the O-acyl groups were retained at isolated sites. In the case of one disaccharide, all the benzoyl groups remained intact at the reducing end, while all the acetyl functions were removable from the nonreducing end. In another case, both isolated ester groups at positions 2 and 4 were retained at the reducing end. The isolated 2-O-acyl groups on methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside compounds were more labile than on the corresponding beta-mannosides under the same conditions. The mechanism of the reaction may be different for ester groups at isolated or non-isolated positions. In the latter case, acyl migration may take place and carry acyl groups into a less hindered position.

beta-Glycosides of 2,3-Diazido-2,3-dideoxy-D-mannose, a Synthetic Precursor of a Rare Bacterial Cell-Wall Building Unit.

2,3-Diazido-2,3-dideoxy-beta-D-mannopyranoside derivatives were synthesized in order to prepare beta-glycosides of 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-D-mannuronic acid, a rare moiety of bacterial oligosaccharides. A direct glycosyl donor, 4,6-di-O-acetyl-2,3-diazido-2,3-dideoxy-alpha-D-mannopyranosyl bromide, was prepared, and its synthetic capacity was tested in glycosylation reactions. An indirect route was also elaborated: 3-azido-3-deoxy-beta-D-glucopyranosides were converted into beta-D-mannopyranosides. The cis vicinal diazido function successfully tolerated the conditions of mild acidic hydrolysis, tritylation, Jones oxidation, TEMPO oxidation, acetolysis, and bromination with TiBr(4).

Syntheses of spacer-armed carbohydrate components of the Mycobacterium avium serocomplex serovar 8.

p-Nitrophenyl glycosides of 3-O-Me-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rhap, alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->2)-6-deoxy-alpha-L-Talp, and 3-O-Me-beta-D-Glcp-(1-->3)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->2)-6-deoxy-alpha-L-++ +Talp have been prepared, related to Mycobacterium avium. Various glycosylation methods have been used for the formation of the interglycosidic linkages. The p-nitrophenyl derivatives were converted into p-isothiocyanatophenyl glycosides, capable of forming neoglycoproteins.