Zwitterionic polysaccharides (ZPSs) are a class of capsular polysaccharides featuring an alternating positive and negative charge motif. Found on the extracellular surface of select bacteria, they have garnered attention from the scientific community due to their ability to induce a T-cell dependent immune response. The minimal repeating units of ZPSs have been an attractive target for total synthesis, however these minimal repeating units have proven to be inactive toward immune stimulation. To address this issue, we have employed ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) to synthesize zwitterionic glycopolymers that structurally mimic their native counterparts. These glycopolymers are based on the recently identified pEtNcellulose, a major component of the extracellular matrix of several strains of E. coli and Salmonella. Studies have previously elucidated one functional role of this pEtN-modified cellulose in enhancing adhesion of bacterial cells to epithelial cells. However, significant studies remain to elucidate the potential immunological role of pEtNCellulose due to its zwitterionic motif. Here, we evaluate whether our synthetic polymers can promote bacterial adhesion in E. coli. Further studies will probe the ability of the synthetic polymer to engage the immune system due to its zwitterionic character.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of a pEtNcellulose glycopolymer mimic

ACS Spring 2022

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