The biofilm of Burkholderia cenocepacia H111 contains an exopolysaccharide composed of L-rhamnose and L-mannose: Structural characterization and molecular modelling

Burkholderia cenocepacia belongs to the Burkholderia Cepacia Complex, a group of 22 closely related species both of clinical and environmental origin, infecting cystic fibrosis patients. B. cenocepacia accounts for the majority of the clinical isolates, comprising the most virulent and transmissible strains. The capacity to form biofilms is among the many virulence determinants of B. cenocepacia, a characteristic that confers enhanced tolerance to some antibiotics, desiccation, oxidizing agents, and host defenses. Exopolysaccharides are a major component of biofilm matrices, particularly providing mechanical stability to biofilms. Recently, a water-insoluble exopolysaccharide produced by B. cenocepacia H111 in biofilm was characterized. In the present study, a water-soluble exopolysaccharide was extracted from B. cenocepacia H111 biofilm, and its structure was determined by GLC-MS, NMR and ESI-MS. The repeating unit is a linear rhamno-tetrasaccharide with 50% replacement of a 3-α-L-Rha with a α-3-L-Man. [2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→3)-α-L-[Rhap or Manp]-(1→3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→]n Molecular modelling was used to obtain information about local structural motifs which could give information about the polysaccharide conformation.