title: Some physical properties of K antigens of Escherichia coli related to their biological activity.
abstract: The ability of K antigens from Escherichia coli to inhibit the agglutination of sheep red cells by rabbit antibody has been taken as a measure of the ability of such antigens to render strains of E. coli O-inagglutinable, resistant to complement and to phagocytosis, and to increase their virulence for mice. Analysis of K antigens by chromatography on Sepharose and diethylaminoethyl cellulose columns and by immunoelectrophoresis suggested that agglutination-inhibiting activity was directly related to molecular size rather than charge. The effect of alkali treatment showed inhibitory activity to be independent of K-specific antigenic determinants and confirmed its relation to molecular weight.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D002848:Chromatography, DEAE-Cellulose; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology*; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D007122:Immunoelectrophoresis; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011817:Rabbits / Q000276:immunology; D012756:Sheep / Q000276:immunology; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D002241:Carbohydrates; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide