Anomeric Proton and Carbon (H1-C1) NMR Chemical Shifts of Antigenic Mannans Obtained from Pathogenic Yeast <i>Candida tropicalis</i>

On two dimensional maps of 1H-13C correlation spectroscopy (H-C COSY) analysis for the mannan of Candida tropicalis, nine cross peaks of anomeric proton and carbon were useful for the purpose of obtaining information on the chemical structure of this molecule. Namely, the mannans was comb-like structure constructed with the linear α-1,6-linked polymannnosyl backbone and several oligomannnosyl side chains composed of α-1,2-, α-1,3-, and β-1,2-linkages. Therefore, in the structural investigation of comb-like mannan, two-dimensional H-C COSY analysis is as useful as two-dimensional nuclear Hartmann-Hahn (HOHAHA) analysis.

Determination of <i>α</i>-1,3-Linked Mannose Residue in the Cell Wall Mannan of <i>Candida tropicalis</i>NBRC 1400 Strain

To investigate the chemical structure of cell wall mannan obtained from pathogenic yeast, Candida tropicalis NBRC 1400 (former antigenic standard strain, IFO 1400). As a result of two-dimensional NMR analysis, it was shown that the mannan of this strain is composed of α-1,6-, α-1,3-, α-1,2- and β-1,2-linked mannose residues. In this research, the mannan was subjected to three degradation procedures, acid-treatment, α-mannosidase, and acetolysis under two conditions in order to determine the chemical structure of the antigenic oligomannosyl side chains in this molecule. The 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance spectra of resultant oligosaccharides, pentaose and hexaose, demonstrated the existence of the oligomannosyl side chains corresponding to Manα1-3Manα1-2Manα1-2Manα1-2Man and Manα1-3Manα1-2Manα1-2Manα1-2Manα1-2Man, respectively, which have previously also been found in Candida albicans serotype A strain mannans. These findings indicate that C. tropicalis and C. albicans serotype A have no significant difference in the chemical structure of these cell wall mannans. Therefore, it can be interpreted that it is extremely difficult to distinguish both species by targeting the antigenic group in these mannans.

Structural Investigation of Cell Wall Mannan Antigen Obtained from Pathogenic Yeast <i>Candida zeylanoides</i>

Antigenicity of pathogenic yeast Candida zeylanoides NBRC 10326 was found to have similar to that of Candida guilliermondii, but it was slightly different, i.e. NBRC 10326 strain cells react strongly with the factor antibodies 1, 4, and 9, and react relatively weakly with factor antibody 5. We have investigated the structural characteristic of cell wall mannan of this strain using a non-degradable method, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. The results obtained from NMR analysis, the two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn, indicated that C. zeylanoides mannan contains α-1, 3-linked and β-1,2-linked oligomannosyl side chains corresponding to C. guilliermondii specific antigenic factor 9. In addition, it was found that the mannan contains β-1,2-linked oligomannosyl side chains attached to phosphate groups corresponding to anitigenic factor 5, which were not found in C. guilliermondii mannan.

Isolation of Mannooligosaccharides Corresponding to Antigenic Determinants of Pathogenic Yeast <i>Candida catenulata</i>Cell Wall Mannan

To investigate the chemical structure of cell wall mannan of pathogenic yeast, Candida catenulata IFO 0745 strain, which possess the epitopes of antigenic factors 1, 9, and 34 to genus Candida, we previously performed the two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of this mannan, Fr. C, without the need for harsh procedures. In this study, three oligosaccharides, biose, triose, and tetraose, and mannose were isolated from Fr. C by acetolysis. The results of NMR analysis indicate that the chemical structures of these oligosaccharides were identified to Manα1-2Man, Manα1-2Manα1-2Man, and Manα1-3Manα1-2Manα1-2Man. The most of resultant mannose seems to be originated from the α-1,6-linked mannan backbone which is recognized by antiserum to factor 9. The inhibition assay of slide agglutination reaction between Fr. C and antigenic antibodies using three oligosaccharides indicate that the Manα1-2Manα1-2Man and Manα1-3Manα1-2Manα1-2Man possess domains corresponding to immunodominants of antigenic factors 1 and 34, respectively.

Chemically Modified Uridine Molecules Incorporating Acyl Residues to Enhance Antibacterial and Cytotoxic Activities

A new N-acetylsulfanilylation series of uridine have been synthesized in good yield using direct acylation method and afforded the 5’-O-N-acetylsulfanilyluridine. In order to obtain newer products, the 5’-O-N-acetylsulfanilyluridine derivative was further transformed to a series of 2’,3’-di-O-acyl derivatives containing a wide variety of functionalities in a single molecular framework. The chemical structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed on the basis of their FTIR, 1H-NMR spectroscopy, physicochemical properties and elemental analysis. All the synthesized uridine derivatives were tested for their in vitro antibacterial activity against six human pathogenic bacterial strains and for comparison standard antibiotic Ampicillin was also determined. The study revealed that the selectively acylated deriva-tives 5’-O-N-acetylsulfanilyl-2’,3’-di-O-lauroyluridine and 5’-O-N-acetylsulfanilyl-2’,3’-di-O-pivaloyluridine showed highest inhibition against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, respectively. We also observed that the introduction of hexanoyl, decanoyl, lauroyl, myristoyl and pivaloyl groups, the antibacterial functionality of the compound uridine increases. Another noteworthy observation was that the uridine derivatives were found comparatively more effective against Gram-positive microorganisms than those of Gram-negative microorganisms. In addition, the test chemicals were also tested for cyto-toxicity by brine shrimp lethality bioassay and compounds showed different rate mortality with different concentrations.