Year: 1969
Type: article
Abstract: The group-specific polysaccharides of group A and group C meningococci have been isolated by a new procedure which employs the cationic detergent Cetavlon to precipitate these polysaccharides from the whole culture. The A and C polysaccharide prepared by this method are noteworthy because they are of high molecular weight. The main constituent of the A polysaccharide is N-acetyl, O-acetyl mannosamine phosphate; of the C polysaccharide N-acetyl, O-acetyl neuraminic acid. This purification procedure, when applied to cultures of group B organisms, yields a polysaccharide consisting primarily of N-acetyl neuraminic acid. A passive hemagglutination test developed to measure antibodies to the polysaccharides demonstrated the specificity of these antigens. Using a hemagglutination inhibition test, these antigens were again found to be group-specific, and this test could be used for serogrouping meningococcal isolates.
Institution: Walter Reed Army Institute of Research
Language: English
Subfield: Microbiology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2091862122