Microbiology
An atypical lipoteichoic acid from Clostridium perfringens elicits a broadly cross-reactive and protective immune response
Clostridium perfringens is a leading cause of food-poisoning and causes avian necrotic enteritis, posing a significant problem to both the poultry industry and human health. No effective vaccine against C. perfringens is currently available. Using an antiserum screen of mutants generated from a C. perfringens transposon-mutant library, here we identified an immunoreactive antigen that was lost in a putative glycosyltransferase mutant, suggesting that this antigen is likely a glycoconjugate. Following injection of formalin-fixed whole cells of C.Mouse Siglec-1 Mediates trans-Infection of Surface-bound Murine Leukemia Virus in a Sialic Acid N-Acyl Side Chain-dependent Manner
Background: Human Siglec-1 mediates HIV trans-infection by interaction with virion-associated sialylated gangliosides.Results: Here, Siglec-1 on mouse macrophages mediated trans-infection of surface-bound MLV. This could be inhibited by biosynthetic modification of sialic acids' N-acyl side chain in virus-producer cells.Conclusion: The N-acyl side chain is a critical determinant of Siglec-1-dependent MLV trans-infection.Significance: Glycoengineering allows manipulation of sialic acid-dependent virus/receptor interactions.
