OLIGOSACCHARIDES AND OLIGOSACCHARIDE-PROTEIN CONJUGATES DERIVED FROM CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE POLYSACCARIDE PS-I, METHODS OF SYNTHESIS AND USES THEREOF, IN PARTICULAR AS VACCINES AND DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS

摘要

The invention relates to a synthetic oligosaccharide representing part of the repeating unit of the Clostridium difficile glycopolymer PS-I and having the sequence of the pentasaccharide ±-L-Rha p -(1†’3)-²-D-Glc p -(1†’4)-[±-L-Rha p -(1†’3)]-±-D-Glc p -(1†’2)-±-D-Glc p or a synthetic fragment or derivative thereof. Preferably, the claimed synthetic oligosaccharide bears at least one linker L for conjugation to a carrier protein or for immobilization on a surface. Further aspects of the invention relate to advantageous methods for synthesizing said synthetic oligosaccharide and oligosaccharide-protein conjugate as well as to uses thereof, in particular as vaccines and diagnostic tools. A preferred method for synthesizing the pentasaccharide is shown below.