Structural determination and serology of the native polysaccharide antigen of type-III group B Streptococcus

Abstract

The native polysaccharide antigen isolated from type-III group B Streptococcus contains D-galactose (Gal), D-glucose (Glc), 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose (GlcNAc), and sialic acid (NeuNAc) in the molar ratio of 2:1:1:1 and its structure can be represented by the following repeating unit:[Formula: see text]By cleavage of all the labile sialic acid end groups the incomplete type-III antigen is obtained which is structurally identical to the S. pneumoniae type-14 polysaccharide. Thus, the native type-III polysaccharide is serologically distinct from the incomplete type-III antigen by virtue of the former having determinants terminating in sialic acid and the latter in β-D-galactopyranose units. None of these latter determinants could be detected in streptococcal organisms grown under pH-controlled conditions (pH 7.0) or in rabbit antiserum made to these pH-controlled organisms. However, in antisera produced in rabbits to the same organisms grown without pH control (Lancefield procedures), antibodies to both types of determinant could be detected. This can be attributed to the removal of some of the masking sialic acid residues from the cell-associated native polysaccharide by degradative procedures which occur during these latter conditions.