Original Articles
Copyright ©The Author(s) 1999. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jun 15, 1999; 5(3): 245-248
Published online Jun 15, 1999. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v5.i3.245
Pathogenic effects of Opolysaccharide from Shigella flexneri strain
Qi-Ping Zhong
Qi-Ping Zhong, Department of Microbiology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
Qi-Ping Zhong, female, born on 1955-10-02 in Tianjin, graduated from Nankai University in 1982, graduated from Tianjin Medical University with a master degree in 1997, engaged in bacteriological research, now associate professor of microbiology, having 9 papers published.
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Qi-Ping Zhong, Department of Microbiology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300070, China
Telephone: +86-22-23525615
Received: December 13, 1998
Revised: April 2, 1999
Accepted: April 26, 1999
Published online: June 15, 1999
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the specific pathogenesis of O-polysaccharide (O-PS) which is on the outer membrane of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Shigella flexneri.

METHODS: The O-PS was isolated and purified from Shigella flexneri-5 M90T by enzymatic hydrolysis and gel chromatography. Effects of O-PS were observed by in vitro experiment, (HeLa cell culture), and in vivo experiment (rabbit ileal loop assay).

RESULTS: In vitro and in vivo experiments with the purified O-PS from Shigella flexneri-revealed that the O-PS alone was toxic to Hela cells and caused mucosal inflammation and hemorrhagic exudation in ileal loop of rabbit.

DISCUSSION: O-PS might be one of the factors causing diarrhea and its mechanism was different from endotoxin reaction of LPS. The molecular mechanism of O-PS need further studies.

Keywords: Shigella flexneri strain; bacterial antigen; O-polysaccharide,virulence