Evaluating the Role of Capsular Polysaccharide K and Lipopolysaccharide O antigens in the pathogenesis of Klebsiella pneumoniae Using a Rat Model of Pneumonia
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Keywords
Klebsiella pneumoniae, Capsular polysaccharide, Lipopolysacharide O side chain, pneumonia, K-antigens, O-antigens
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the commonest bacterial causes of hospital acquired pneumonia and accounts for 5 to 7.5% of all nosocomial infections in intensive care units, lower respiratory, urinary tract, and burn wound infections. The objectives of this study are to compare total polysaccharide concentrations extracted from K. pneumoniae isolates. Secondly, to investigate the cellular events using rat model of infection leading to pneumonia with the highest capsular polysaccharide contents as well as evaluating the contributions of each capsular polysaccharide K & lipopolysaccharide O-antigens in this process. For this purpose, thirty-nine strains of K. pneumoniae were isolated from nosocomial infections at Sulaimaniyha hospitals. Capsular polysaccharides and total polysaccharide in all isolated K. pneumoniae strains, were extracted by heating method and quantification were determined on the bases of standard glucose curve. Results revealed that K. pneumoniae was significantly different in their capsular polysaccharide concentrations with regard to their site of isolation. The highest polysaccharide content was found in a clinical isolate of blood specimens (80μg / 1010 CFU/ ml). Histopathological examinations were performed on rats suffering from induced pneumonia with whole bacterial cell antigens, extracted capsular polysaccharide (K-antigens), and (O-antigens). In the case of whole bacterial cells, lung sections showed severe effects; the outpouring of polymorphonuclear and mononuclear leukocytes to the interalveolar septa, accompanied by destruction of alveolar walls (emphysema) with severe congestion of blood vessels, peribronchiolar and perivascular infiltration of inflammatory cells. K-antigens exhibited relatively whole bacterial cells-like histopathological effects whereas O-antigens did not reveal such profound effects.
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