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Infection and Immunity, December 2003, p. 6712-6720, Vol. 71, No. 12
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.12.6712-6720.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Genetic Basis for Biosynthesis of the ({alpha}1->4)-Linked N-Acetyl-D-Glucosamine 1-Phosphate Capsule of Neisseria meningitidis Serogroup X

Yih-Ling Tzeng,1,2* Corie Noble,2 and David S. Stephens1,2,3,4

Department of Medicine,1 Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine,3 Meningitis and Special Pathogens Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia,4 Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia2

Received 12 May 2003/ Returned for modification 8 August 2003/ Accepted 3 September 2003

The genetic basis for biosynthesis of the ({alpha}1->4)-linked N-acetyl-D-glucosamine 1-phosphate capsule of Neisseria meningitidis serogroup X was defined. The biosynthesis gene cassette was a ~4.2-kb region located between ctrA of the capsule transport operon and galE, which encodes the UDP-glucose-4-epimerase. This location was identical to the locations of the biosynthesis cassettes in other meningococcal serogroups. Three open reading frames unique to meningococcus serogroup X were identified. Deletion-insertion mutation and colony immunoblotting confirmed that these three genes were essential for serogroup X capsule expression, and the genes were designated xcbA, xcbB, and xcbC (serogroup X capsule biosynthesis). Reverse transcriptase PCR indicated that the xcbABC genes form an operon and are cotranscribed divergently from ctrA. XcbA exhibited 52% amino acid similarity to SacB, the putative capsule polymerase of meningococcus serogroup A, suggesting that it plays a role as the serogroup X capsule polymerase. An IS1016 element was found within the intergenic region separating ctrA and xcbA in multiple strains, and this element did not interfere with capsule expression.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Research 151, Room 5A183, 1670 Clairmont Rd., Decatur, GA 30033. Phone: (404) 321-6111, ext. 6168. Fax: (404) 329-2210. E-mail: ytzeng{at}emory.edu.

Editor: J. N. Weiser

Infection and Immunity, December 2003, p. 6712-6720, Vol. 71, No. 12
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.12.6712-6720.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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