Poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG) (PNAG)

Poly-N-acetylglucosamine (PNAG) is a highly conserved surface polysaccharide produced by a wide range of pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and protozoa (Cywes-Bentley et al., 2013). It serves as a critical component of the extracellular biofilm matrix, facilitating cell-to-cell adhesion and protecting microbes from host immune defenses such as phagocytosis and complement-mediated killing (Pier, 2012). In its deacetylated form (dPNAG), it is particularly prominent on the microbial surface and serves as a primary target for the host's protective immune response (Skurnik et al., 2010). Therapeutic strategies targeting PNAG include the development of monoclonal antibodies, such as F598, and conjugate vaccines designed to induce opsonophagocytic killing of pathogens (Cywes-Bentley et al., 2013). Because PNAG is expressed by diverse organisms including Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Acinetobacter baumannii, it represents a promising pan-microbial target for treating and preventing multi-drug resistant infections (Pier, 2012). The conservation of this molecule across diverse taxa makes it a unique candidate for broad-spectrum immunotherapy (Cywes-Bentley et al., 2013).

Other names

Polysaccharide Intercellular AdhesinPIAPoly-beta-1,6-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminedPNAGDeacetylated poly-N-acetylglucosamine

Opsonophagocytic killing and complement-mediated lysis