Bacillus pumilus polysaccharide cross-reactive with meningococcal group A polysaccharide.
A polysaccharide, antigenically and structurally related to meningococcal group A polysaccharide, was isolated from Bacillus pumilus Sh-17. This enteric bacterium has been implicated as a source of natural meningococcal group A immunity (Myerowitz et al., 1973). The B. pumilus polysaccharide was composed of a homopolymer of (1-6)-N-acetyl-manosamine-1-phosphate, glycerol phosphate teichoic acid-containing N-acetylglucosamine and alkali-labile alanine esters, and a mucopeptide. The cross-reaction was due to the poly-(1-6)-N-acetyl-mannosamine-1-phosphate in the B. pumilus and the meningococcal group A polysaccharides, based on the following evidence. Both polysaccharides contained N-acetyl-mannosamine phosphate. Periodate oxidized the mannosamine phosphate residues of the polysaccharide and destroyed their precipitating activity with meningococcal group A antiserum. Mild acid treatment released phosphomonoesters and destroyed the meningococcal group A precipitating activity of both polysaccharides. N-acetyl-mannosamine-6-phosphate inhibited the precipitation reaction between strain Sh-17 and meningococcal group A antisera. Only mannosamine phosphate was detected in trichloroacetic acid extracts of Sh-17 polysaccharide and meningococcal group A antigen-antibody precipitates.
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000032:analysis; D001407:Bacillus / Q000276:immunology*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D003429:Cross Reactions; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000276:immunology*; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology*; D010504:Periodic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D013045:Species Specificity
D000596:Amino Acids; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; D010504:Periodic Acid