Staphylococcus aureus type 336 surface polysaccharide (Type 336 PS)

Staphylococcus aureus type 336 surface polysaccharide is a carbohydrate antigen expressed on the cell surface of specific S. aureus clinical isolates that lack the more prevalent type 5 and type 8 capsular polysaccharides (Fattom et al., 1998). While historically categorized as a capsular polysaccharide, biochemical studies indicate it is a cell wall-associated polysaccharide that serves as a key virulence factor by aiding in immune evasion and resisting opsonophagocytosis (O'Riordan & Lee, 2004). This molecule is highly immunogenic and has been utilized as a target in the development of conjugate vaccines and passive immunotherapies intended to prevent invasive S. aureus infections (Shinefield et al., 2002). Specifically, it was a component of the investigational vaccine StaphVAX and the hyperimmune globulin Altastaph, designed to provide protection for high-risk populations such as hemodialysis patients. Despite its promise as a therapeutic target, clinical trials have faced challenges regarding long-term efficacy and the complexity of S. aureus serotype distribution (Schaffer & Lee, 2008). Targeting this polysaccharide aims to enhance the clearance of S. aureus from the bloodstream during invasive infections like bacteremia and endocarditis.

Other names

Staphylococcus aureus type 336 capsular polysaccharideType 336 antigenS. aureus Type 336 polysaccharide336-polysaccharide

Induction of opsonophagocytic antibodies that bind to the bacterial surface, promoting ingestion and killing by host phagocytes (Fattom et al., 1998; O'Riordan & Lee, 2004).