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J C Richards

Publications and source records attributed to J C Richards.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

Gene probes.

Gene probes are used in virtually all disciplines of the life sciences. Probes will probably have their greatest impact in health care when used as diagnostic tools to detect and identify micro-organisms responsible for infectious disease. This review will use development of gene probes for the clinical laboratory as a theme and review recent patents and publications which have nurtured probe development.

Animals↗

Proportions of diether, macrocyclic diether, and tetraether lipids in Methanococcus jannaschii grown at different temperatures.

Growth of Methanococcus jannaschii over a wide temperature range (47 to 75 degrees C) is correlated with an ability to alter dramatically the proportions of three ether lipid cores. These lipids shifted from predominantly diether (2,3-di-O-phytanyl-sn-glycerol) at the lower growth temperatures to macrocyclic diether and tetraether at near optimal growth temperatures. Lipid head groups varied as well, especially with respect to an increase in phosphate at the higher temperatures.

Autoradiography↗

Expression of two structurally distinct D-galactan O antigens in the lipopolysaccharide of Klebsiella pneumoniae serotype O1.

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) molecule is an important virulence determinant in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Studies on the serotype O1 LPS were initiated to determine the basis for antigenic heterogeneity previously observed in the O1 side chain polysaccharides and to resolve apparent ambiguities in the reported polysaccharide structure. Detailed chemical analysis, involving methylation and 1H- and 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance studies, demonstrated that the O-side chain polysaccharides of serotype O1 LPS contained a mixture of two structurally distinct D-galactan polymers. The repeating unit structures of these two polymers were identified as [----3)-beta-D-Galf-(1----3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1----] (D-galactan I) and [----3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----] (D-Galactan II). D-Galactan I polysaccharides were heterogeneous in size and were detected throughout the sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) profile of O1 LPS. In contrast, D-galactan II was confined to the higher-molecular-weight region. The structures of the two D-galactans were not influenced by simultaneous synthesis of a capsular K antigen. Apparently, neither of the D-galactans constitutes a common antigen widespread in Klebsiella spp. as determined by immunochemical analysis. Examination of the LPSs in mutants indicated that expression of D-galactan I can occur independently of D-galactan II. Transconjugants of Escherichia coli K-12 strains carrying the his region of K. pneumoniae were constructed by chromosome mobilization with RP4::mini-Mu. In these transconjugants, the O antigen encoded by the his-linked rfb locus was determined to be D-galactan I, suggesting that genes involved in the expression of D-galactan II are not closely linked to the rfb cluster.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Structural analysis of the specific capsular polysaccharide of Rhodococcus equi serotype 2.

The specific capsular polysaccharide produced by Rhodococcus equi serotype 2 is a high-molecular-weight acidic polymer composed of D-glucose, D-mannose, D-glucuronic acid and 3-O-[(S)-1-carboxyethyl]-L-rhamnose in equimolar proportions. Structural analysis, employing a combination of chemical and n.m.r. techniques, established that the polysaccharide is composed of linear repeating tetrasaccharide units. (formula; see text) in which the beta-D-mannose residues carry O-acetyl groups at O-2 and O-3 to the extent of 1.7 mol equivalents. Unequivocal determination of the absolute chirality of the 3-O-[(S)-1-carboxyethyl]-alpha-L-rhamnose residues was achieved by chemical correlation with an authentic synthetic sample. The 1H and 13C-n.m.r. resonances of the native and O-deacetylated serotype 2 polysaccharides were fully assigned by homo- and heteronuclear chemical-shift correlation methods.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Structure of the amino acid-containing capsular polysaccharide from Escherichia coli O8:K49:H21.

The structure of the capsular antigen of E. coli K49 and the oligosaccharides derived from it by partial acid hydrolysis were studied by 1D- and 2D-n.m.r. spectroscopy, g.l.c.-c.i.-mass spectrometry, and methylation analysis. The K49 polysaccharide consists of the repeating unit----4)-beta-D-GlcpA-(1----6)-beta-D-Galp-(1----6)-beta-D-Glcp- (1----3)-beta - D-GalpNAc-(1----. The glucuronic acid residues are substituted, in the apparent molar ratio of 4:1, with L-threonine and L-serine linked amidically to the carboxyl group.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Structure of the type 5 capsular polysaccharide of Staphylococcus aureus.

The Staphylococcus aureus type 5 capsular polysaccharide is composed of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-L-fucose (1 part), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-fucose (1 part), and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-mannuronic acid (1 part). On the basis of methylation analysis, optical rotation, high-field one- and two-dimensional 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. experiments, and selective cleavage with 70% aqueous hydrogen fluoride, the polysaccharide was found to be a partially O-acetylated (50%) polymer of the repeating trisaccharide unit, [----4)-3-O-Ac-beta-D-ManpNAcA-(1----4)-a-L-FucpNAc-(1----3) -beta-D-FucpNAc-(1----]n.

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Structures of polar lipids from the thermophilic, deep-sea archaeobacterium Methanococcus jannaschii.

Cells of Methanococcus jannaschii, grown at 65 degrees C in a defined medium, contained 7% of lipid composed of 87% polar and 13% neutral components. Within the polar fraction 16 lipids were resolved by thin-layer chromatography, 4 of which were present in trace amounts. Staining reactions demonstrated that the more abundant lipids were glycolipids, aminophospholipids, and an aminophosphoglycolipid. Most of the polar fraction (82%) consisted of five diether lipids, which were purified and their structures were resolved largely through nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and optical rotation methods. Macrocyclic diethers had the head groups phosphoethanolamine-(1----6)-beta-D-glucopyranose, beta-D-glucopyranose, and beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1----6)-beta-D-glucopyranose. Phosphoethanolamine was identified as a head group for both the noncyclized and macrocylic diether core lipids. The neutral lipids were mainly acyclic C30 isoprenoids, predominantly dihydro-, hexahydro, and octahydro-squalenes.

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Structural analysis of the specific capsular polysaccharide of Rhodococcus equi serotype 1.

The specific capsular polysaccharide produced by Rhodococcus equi serotype 1 was found to be a high molecular weight acidic polymer composed of D-glucose, D-mannose, and D-glucuronic acid. Structural analysis of the polysaccharide employed a combination of chemical and nuclear magnetic resonance techniques, from which it was determined that the polysaccharide possessed a linear repeating tetrasaccharide unit containing a single O-acetyl substituent and and acetal-linked pyruvic acid moiety: [formula: see text] The 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonances of O-deacetylated and pyruvic-free serotype 1 polysaccharides were fully assigned by homo- and hetero-nuclear chemical shift correlation methods.

Acetylation↗

Elucidation of the structure of the Pasteurella haemolytica serotype T10 lipopolysaccharide O-antigen by n.m.r. spectroscopy.

The aqueous-phase lipopolysaccharide isolated from Pasteurella haemolytica serotype T10 cells by the phenol-water extraction method was found to be S-type lipopolysaccharide which possessed O-antigenic polysaccharide chains composed only of D-galactose residues. Structural analysis of the O-polysaccharide, using a combination of 1D and 2D 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. methods, led to the identification of the disaccharide repeating-unit as [----3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galf-(1----]n. The serological cross-reactivity between P. haemolytica serotypes T4 and T10 can now be related to the structural similarity of the antigenic LPS O-polysaccharides.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

Application of high-resolution n.m.r. spectroscopy to the elucidation of the structure of the specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 7F.

The specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 7F (American type 51) is a high-molecular-weight neutral polymer composed of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, D-glucose, D-galactose, L-rhamnose, and 2-O-acetyl-L-rhamnose residues. N.m.r. spectroscopy (1H and 13C), in conjunction with composition and methylation analyses, and periodate oxidation data, showed the polysaccharide to be a branched polymer with a repeating heptasaccharide unit having the following structure. (formula; see text)

Acetylation↗

Structural analysis of the specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 45 (American type 72).

The specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 45 (American type 72) was found to be a high molecular weight polymer composed of D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-L-fucose, L-rhamnose, glycerol, and phosphate (2:1:1:1:1:1:1). Partial hydrolysis, dephosphorylation, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation studies, and one- and two-dimensional 1H and 13C high-field nuclear magnetic resonance experiments showed the polysaccharide to be a branched polymer of a 1-phosphoglycerol-substituted hexasaccharide repeating unit having the structure: (formula; see text).

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

Structure of the specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 23F (American type 23).

The specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 23F (American type 23) is composed of a repeating tetrasaccharide unit containing D-glucose (one part), D-galactose (one part), L-rhamnose (two parts), glycerol (one part), and phosphate (one part). By composition analysis, optical rotation, partial hydrolysis, periodate oxidation, methylation, and high-resolution 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies, the elucidated unambiguous structure was in agreement with our earlier proposal but is at variance with structures proposed later by other authors. The structure of the type 23F pneumococcal polysaccharide is (formula; see text).

Chromatography, Gas↗

Structure of the O-chain of the lipopolysaccharide of Pasteurella haemolytica serotype T3.

Cell-wall lipopolysaccharide isolated from Pasteurella haemolytica serotype T3 using the phenol-water extraction procedure was shown to be an S type lipopolysaccharide by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Hydrolysis with mild acid afforded a lipid-free, antigenic O-chain polysaccharide. On the basis of one- and two-dimensional 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies, in conjunction with microanalytical chemical methods, the O-polysaccharide was determined to be a linear polymer of a disaccharide repeating unit having the structure. [----3)-beta-D-G1cpNAc-(1----4)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1----]n

Carbohydrate Sequence↗

The structure of the specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 11F (American type 11).

The specific polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 11F (American type 11) is composed of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (one part), D-glucose (one part), D-galactose (two parts), ribitol (one part), phosphate (one part), and O-acetyl (two parts). Hydrolysis, dephosphorylation, periodate oxidation, methylation, optical rotation, and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies showed that the polysaccharide is an unbranched linear polymer of a ribitol-phosphate substituted repeating tetrasaccharide unit having the structure: (Formula: see text). The specific capsular polysaccharides of S. pneumoniae type 11B and 11C (American types 76 and 53) were found to have the same tetrasaccharide repeating unit as the 11F polysaccharide, but differed from it in their mode of O-acetylation and the replacement of the ribitol phosphate by glycerol phosphate in the 11C specific polysaccharide.

Animals↗

The specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 33F.

The specific capsular polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 33F (American type 70) is composed of D-galactose (5 parts), D-glucose (1 part), and O-acetyl (ca. 0.4 parts). Periodate oxidation, partial hydrolysis, and 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance studies showed that the polysaccharide is a high molecular weight polymer of a repeating hexasaccharide unit having the structure: (Formula: see text)

Carbohydrate Conformation↗

Structural analysis of the specific polysaccharide of Streptococcus pneumoniae type 9L (American type 49).

The specific capsular polysaccharide produced by Streptococcus pneumoniae type 9L (American type 49) is composed of D-galactose (one part), D-glucose (one part), D-glucuronic acid (one part), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-mannose (one part), and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (one part). Partial acid hydrolysis, periodate oxidation, nitrous acid deamination, optical rotation, methylation, and 13C and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance studies showed that the polysaccharide is an unbranched high molecular weight linear polymer of a repeating pentasaccharide unit having the structure: (formula; see text).

Chemical Phenomena↗