Advances on the Biosynthesis Mechanism of Bacterial Polysaccharides

Polysaccharide is the major component of bacterial cell that plays a significant role in the interaction between bacteria and their hosts. It aids the identification of bacteria, imparting virulence to the bacteria and adjusting host's immune response as well. Advance genomics research has deciphered several different bacterial polysaccharides sharing a common biosynthesis mechanism. The study of polysaccharides is mainly based on sequence analysis and prediction of genome in combination with metabolite analyses that still requires a detailed study. Researchers are now further focusing on their biosynthetic pathways to unveil the mechanisms underlying the diversity of these bacterial polysaccharides along with the host-pathogen interaction. It will open new doors for vaccine development and other therapeutic methods against pathogenic bacteria, and also provide technical support to control disease and cure at molecular level. This review states the mechanisms and relevant problems of biosynthesis and in vitro biosynthesis of peptidoglycan,O-antigen and capsular polysaccharides,and summarizes the application of bacteria polysaccharides in the aspects of searching for candidate antigens and controlling the targets of pathogenic bacteria and exploring genetic evolution of bacteria and biological synthesis.