DMB labelling for detection and analysis of capsular polysaccharides

Bacterial capsules are major virulence factors enabling systemic infection by undermining innate and adaptive immunity. Capsular polysaccharides are also the antigen in some of the most successful antibacterial vaccines – including the pneumococcal, neisserial and Hib conjugate vaccines. However, it remains exceptionally challenging to study capsules, primarily due to their high chemical diversity and the limited methods available for their detection and analysis. We describe a robust biochemical method for detection and analysis of ABC transporter-dependent capsular polysaccharides, a major class of capsules that are associated with extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC). The method involves release and fluorescent tagging of polysaccharides from the cell surface. Anion exchange chromatography of labelled samples reveals the presence, relative abundance, and length-distribution of these diverse polysaccharide antigens. The method provides a modern approach to detecting the capsule phenotype, bridging a critical gap left by the decline of serotyping assays. It will enhance our understanding of fundamental capsule biology and advance the development of capsule-targeting vaccines.