抄録
Immunochemical and biochemical studies were carried out on the polysaccharides of Shigella flexneri in which phage mediated conversion of the type antigen had been observed.
Descending and ascending paper chromatography was carried out to confirm the constituent sugars of the polysaccharides. The polysaccharides consist of glucose, galactose, heptose (?), hexosamine and N-acetylhexosamine.
Quantitative determinations of sugars in the polysaccharides of the strains 1a, 2a, 3a, 4a and VX were carried out. Methylpentose, galactose and pentose were present in approximately the same ratios in all polysaccharides, but hoxosamine and glucose were detected in various ratios. The ratio of hexosamine to glucose is 1:1 in 1a and 2a, 3:4 in 3a, and 2:1 in 4a and VX. The amount of acetyl group is approximately similar to the amount of hexosamine, however in 3a polysaccharide O-acetyl group was also detected.
Stability of various antigens of the polysaccharides against acid and alkali was compared. Antigenicity of the type antigen III was very sensitive against alkali.
The antigenic determinants of the group antigens 3, 4 and 6 would be N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, and the antigenic determinants of 7, 8 would be α-glucosyl-(1→4)-_??_glucose or N-acetyl-D-galactosamine_??_-which is similar to those of the type antigens I, II and IVI.
