The centerpiece of this proposal is the new found, extraordinary? lipooligosaccharide antigens, ubiquitous among atypical (nontuberculous)? mycobacteria and perhaps present in Mycobacterium tuberculosis and? Mycobacterium leprae. Those from Mycobacterium kansasii are characterized? by a glycosidic trehalose-containing """"""""core"""""""", modulated by species-specific? sugars and acyl substituents. State-of-the-art chemical analysis (e.g. 360? MHz 1H- and 13C-NMR; gas liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry; fast atom? bombardment/mass spectrometry) will be applied, probing the variety of? trehalose-containing """"""""cores"""""""" and the relationship of species-specific? sugars and acyl functions to the """"""""cores"""""""". Analysis of the pyruvic? acid-containing """"""""C-mycoside"""""""" glycopeptidolipid (GPL) antigens of the? Mycobacterium avium/Mycobacterium intracellulare/Mycobacterium scrofulaceum? complex will continue in concert with a probing of their biosynthesis,? based on observations that they originate in water-soluble glycopeptides? and are susceptible to D cycloserine. The role of lysogenic conversion in? the multiplicity of glycopeptidolipid-containing serotypes in nature will? be explored. In addition, the clinical application of the species-specific? glycolipids, incorporated into enzyme linked immunosorbent assays, in? identification of pathogens and direct serodiagnosis of disease will? continue. The physiological function and role in pathogenesis/persistence? of the species-specific lipooligosaccharides/glycopeptidolipids will be? explored with emphasis on the theorm of an inert lipoidal capsule.? ?
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