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. 1987 Nov;55(11):2741–2746. doi: 10.1128/iai.55.11.2741-2746.1987

Role of lipopolysaccharide and complement in susceptibility of Klebsiella pneumoniae to nonimmune serum.

B Ciurana 1, J M Tomás 1
PMCID: PMC259970  PMID: 3312009

Abstract

The role of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the susceptibility of Klebsiella pneumoniae to serum and the mechanism of complement activation by serum-susceptible (SerS) strains were investigated. The classical and alternative complement pathways are involved in serum killing of susceptible K. pneumoniae strains. The LPS composition seems to play a very important role in the serum bactericidal reaction, while capsular polysaccharide from this bacterium does not play any role. High-molecular-weight LPS from serum-resistant (Serr) K. pneumoniae strains was able to inhibit completely the serum bactericidal activity. LPS from SerS K. pneumoniae strains was not able to inhibit completely the serum bactericidal activity; low-molecular-weight LPS from Serr K. pneumoniae strains could not either. All these findings suggested that LPS composition, especially the O-antigen polysaccharide chains, contributes to the susceptibility of K. pneumoniae strains to complement-mediated serum bactericidal activity.

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Selected References

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