Chemical Composition and Serological Analysis of the Cell Wall of Peptostreptococcus

Abstract

Bahn, Arthur N. (Northwestern University, Chicago, Ill.), Patrick C. Y. Kung, and James A. Hayashi . Chemical composition and serological analysis of the cell wall of Peptostreptococcus . J. Bacteriol. 91: 1672–1676. 1966.—Chemical and serological analyses were made of the cell wall of Peptostreptococcus to characterize taxonomically this genus of anaerobic streptococci. Cell wall hydrolysates of P. putridus strains 06 and 85, P. intermedius strains 11 and 87, and P. elsdenii strain B-159 were prepared, and the cell wall sugars were measured quantitatively by paper chromatography. Strain 85 contained only glucose, whereas strain 06 contained 93% glucose and 7% mannose. Strain 87 contained only rhamnose, and strain 11 contained approximately equal amounts of glucose and rhamnose. Strain B-159 differed from all the other strains in having a low (3.1%) content of total carbohydrate, consisting of rhamnose, galactose, and glucose. Quantitative amino acid analyses showed that the major amino compounds present in the cell wall were glutamic and aspartic acids, alanine, lysine, muramic acid, glucosamine, and galactosamine. Strains 06 and 85 possessed this complement of amino compounds, but strains 11 and 87 had relatively little aspartic acid. Strain B-159 was markedly different in having a high content of glycine and diaminopimelic acid, with only traces of lysine; it was the only strain in which teichoic acid was found. Serological analyses were made with the use of cell wall extracts as antigenic material and with homologous antisera, as well as streptococcal group antisera for groups A through S. The only strong agglutination was obtained between strain 87 antigen and group C antisera; weak agglutination was obtained with 87 against N, O, and K, and between strain 11 and groups E and F. All other antisera gave negative reactions. It is concluded that strain B-159 does not belong to the genus Peptostreptococcus , that strains 06 and 85 are members of P. putridus , and that strains 11 and 87 may be members of two different genera.