The role of microbial polysaccharides in host-pathogen interaction

Abstract

Bacteria are capable of expressing a diverse range of cell surface polysaccharides from capsules and lipopolysaccharides through teichoic acid molecules to lipoarabinomannans. This review will focus on the expression of capsular polysaccharides and their interaction with the host. In particular, it will focus on the role of capsular polysaccharides as immunomodulatory molecules.