Physiological studies on the pneumococcal Forssman antigen: a choline-containing lipoteichoic acid.
The cell concentration and possible biological activities of the pneumococcal Forssman (F) antigen (membrane lipoteichoic acid) were examined in a number of physiological situations. In test tube cultures of pneumococci the concentration of the Forssman antigen per bacterium showed no significant fluctuations within a typical culture cycle. Purified F antigen had no effect on the activation of pneumococci to competence for genetic transformation, DNA mediated genetic transformation or adsorption of the  pneumococcal phage Dp-1 to bacteria. Pneumococci grown in the presence of different amino alcohols (ethanolamine, N-monomethylethanolamine, or choline) exhibit differences with regard to both their ability to stimulate heterophile (haemolytic) antibody production in rabbits and in their ability to bind such antibodies. Choline-grown bacteria seem to cross-react with sheep red blood cells better than do the analogue-grown bacteria.
D000327:Adsorption; D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation; D000937:Antigen-Antibody Reactions; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000254:growth & development; D001666:Binding Sites, Antibody; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000276:immunology; D002794:Choline / Q000378:metabolism; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000276:immunology; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism; D005577:Forssman Antigen; D006461:Hemolysis; D011817:Rabbits; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology; D013010:Sonication; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013682:Teichoic Acids / Q000276:immunology*; D014170:Transformation, Genetic; D014779:Virus Replication
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004983:Ethanolamines; D013682:Teichoic Acids; D005577:Forssman Antigen; D002794:Choline