OLIGOSACCHARIDES AND OLIGOSACCHARIDE-PROTEIN CONJUGATES DERIVED FROM CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE POLYSACCARIDE PS-I, METHODS OF SYNTHESIS AND USES THEREOF, IN PARTICULAR AS VACCINES ANDDIAGNOSTIC TOOLS

摘要

The invention relates to a synthetic oligosaccharide representing part of the repeating unit of the Clostridium difficile glycopolymer PS-I and having the sequence of the pentasaccharide a-L-Rhap- ( 1?3 ) -ß-D-Glcp- ( 1?4 ) - [a-L-Rhap- ( 1?3 ] -a-D-Glcp- ( 1?2 ) -a-D-Glcp or a synthetic fragment or derivative thereof. Preferably, the claimed synthetic oligosaccharide bears at least one linker L for conjugation to a carrier protein or for immobilization on a surface. Further aspects of the invention relate to advantageous methods for synthesizing said synthetic oligosaccharide and oligosaccharide-protein conjugate as well as to uses thereof, in particular as vaccines and diagnostic tools.