title: Production of type 5 capsular polysaccharide by Staphylococcus aureus grown in a semi-synthetic medium.
abstract: The concentration of the type 5 capsular polysaccharide (CP) antigen of Staphylococcus aureus can be measured directly in cultures or cell suspensions by a two-step inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using monoclonal antibodies. CP was synthesized during growth on a variety of carbon substrates and its production was not affected by the nature of the carbon source. High levels of yeast extract inhibited CP formation. CP was synthesized in batch culture at the same rate during exponential growth as in the post-exponential phase. Post-exponential CP production contributed at least half the final amount of CP measured. This phenomenon was observed in different culture media, although the specific yield of polysaccharide varied from one medium to another. Post-exponential CP production was observed in the pH range 6-7, but not at pH 8. Post-exponential production was strictly dependent on oxygen availability and did not occur under anaerobic conditions.
authors.affiliation: Division de Biochimie, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dassy
authors.forename: W T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Stringfellow
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lieb
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fournier
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D016667:Bacterial Capsules; D003470:Culture Media; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010100:Oxygen; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D003470:Culture Media; D011135:Polysaccharides, Bacterial; C054106:capsular polysaccharide, type 5, Staphylococcus aureus; D010100:Oxygen