REGIOSELECTIVE ss(1->3) GLYCOSYLATION OF GALACTOSE AND ITS APPLICATION TO THE SYNTHESIS OF GROUP B STREPTOCOCCAL CAPSULAR POLYSACCHARIDE FRAGMENTS

摘要

Despite substantial progresses in the prevention of group B Streptococcus (GBS) disease with the introduction of intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis, this pathogen remains a leading cause of neonatal infections. Capsular polysaccharide conjugate vaccines have been tested in phase I/II clinical studies, showing promise for further development.[1] Ten serotypes of GBS have been identified on the basis of variation in the sugar composition of the capsular polysaccharide. The elucidation of polysaccharide epitopes is relevant for understanding the mechanism of action of glycoconjugates and designing synthetic carbohydrate-based vaccines. Recently an X-ray/NMR based approach was applied to determine the epitope of GBS PSIII, which resulted composed of six sugar residues included within two repeating units, paving the way towards the use of synthetic structures for vaccine development.[2]