Chemical approaches to bacterial vaccines. Synthesis of mycobacterial oligosaccharide-protein conjugates for use as serodiagnostics and immunogens

Article abstract of DOI:10.1016/0960-894X(96)00235-1

Di- to penta-saccharide fragments (2-5) of Polysaccharide II (PS-II) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis were synthesized in spacer-linked form in a stepwise fashion using a new glycosyl donor featuring a trans-fused isopropylidene diol-protecting group. Covalent attachment of the oligosaccharides to proteins provides semi-synthetic antigens and immunogens which are being used to probe the role of PS-II as a possible mycobacterial antigen.