title: Lipopolysaccharide-derived serotype polysaccharides from Neisseria meningitidis group B.
abstract: Three immunologically distinct types of polysaccharides have been isolated by diethylaminoethyl (DEAE) chromatography from the lipopolysaccharide extracts of group B Neisseria meningitidis. All types contain a set of common determinants, as well as distinct ones; all of these determinants are detectable by either immunodiffusion or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The polysaccharides elute from a Sepharose 4B column in the range of 2-3 x 10(5) daltons and have isoelectric points from 4.2 to 4.3. Their antigenicity is destroyed by oxidation but is unaffected by neuraminidase, lysozyme, or trypsin. One type of polysaccharide cross-reacts with the Gc2 polysaccharide of Neisseria gonorrhoeae in immunodiffusion systems. Chemical analysis indicates that these polysaccharides contain hexoses, hexosamines, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate, ethanolamine, and heptose; analysis of amino acids indicates protein contents of less than 0.05%. In contrast to the lipopolysaccharide from which they are derived, these polysaccharides contain no lipid A and less than 0.5% fatty acids. All three types are precipitated by wheat germ agglutinin but not by concanavalin A or fucose-binding protein. Specific inhibition of this precipitation can be achieved with N-acetyl glucosamine. These antigens may be the bases of a lipopolysaccharide-derived typing system for group B N. meningitidis.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D000939:Epitopes; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012703:Serotyping
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D000939:Epitopes; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial