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Journal of Bacteriology, February 2006, p. 1165-1168, Vol. 188, No. 3
0021-9193/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/JB.188.3.1165-1168.2006
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Mutations in the waaR Gene of Escherichia coli Which Disrupt Lipopolysaccharide Outer Core Biosynthesis Affect Cell Surface Retention of Group 2 Capsular Polysaccharides

Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom

Received 22 September 2005/ Accepted 31 October 2005

On the basis of increased resistance to K5 capsule-specific bacteriophage, a waaR transposon mutant defective in the biosynthesis of lipopolysaccharide outer core was isolated. In a K1-expressing strain the mutation equally affected sensitivity to K1 capsule-specific bacteriophage, indicating a general effect on group 2 capsules. The waaR mutation affected retention on the cell surface of the K5 polysaccharide, with increased polysaccharide accumulating in the culture supernatant. This indicates that interactions between the outer core of lipopolysaccharide and group 2 capsular polysaccharides are important for the stabilization of group 2 capsular polysaccharides on the cell surface.