IMMUNOCHEMICAL STUDIES ON BACTERIAL BLOOD GROUP SUBSTANCES

I. ABSORPTION OF THE BLOOD GROUP SPECIFIC ANTIBODIES IN BACTERIAL ANTISERA BY SIMPLE SUGARS

Abstract

1. O(H) substance of bacteria. Anti-O(H) antibody in anti-S. Poona immune chicken serum was inhibited in its reaction by L-fucose. This indicates that blood group specific activity of O(H) substance in S. Poona, would be determined by L-fucose. However, anti-O(H) antibody in anti-Sh. dysenteriae immune chicken serum was principally inhibited by D-galactose and raffinose. Therefore, the O(H) substance in S. Poona and that in Sh. dysenteriae would be somewhat different in structure, and the former would be in higher stage of development.
2. FA and A substances in bacteria. The reaction of anti-A antibody, which was obtained by immunizing rabbits with S. paratyphi B 8006, containing FA sub-stance, or with S. riogrande or E. freundii B90, both of which contain A substance, was inhibited strongly by N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, and weakly by N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. This indicates that FA and A subsances in bacteria and human beings similarly would have specific activities of their blood groups determined by N-acetylhexosamine, especially by N-acetylgalactosamine.
3. B substance in bacteria. Anti-B antibody in anti-E. coli O86 immune chicken serum was principally inhibited in its reaction by D-galactose and raffinose. This indicates that B substance, both in bacteria and human beings, similarly would have its blood group specific activity determined by D-galactose.
4. C(A+B) substance in bacteria. Specific activity of the C(A+B) substance found in A substance is determined by N-acetylgalactosamine. Specific activity of the C substance found in B substance can be determined by D-galactose. However, anti-B-containing anti-C agglutinin in anti-Sh. dysenteriae R form immune chicken serum was inhibited by both sugars. Therefore the C substance in this case would be found in a stage preceding the development into A and B substances.
5. Somatic antigens 5 and 1 in bacteria. The specific activity of somatic antigen 5, which is related to FA substance, is determined by N-acetylgalactosamine. The specific activity of somatic antigen 1, which was reported by Iseki and Kashiwagi(17) to induce phage conversion, is determined by sugars containing glucose.