Physicochemical Properties of Neisseria meningitidis Group C and Y Polysaccharide Antigens.
Chemical and physical studies of the Neisseria meningitidis group C and Y antigens indicated that these preparations are acidic polysaccharides. The group C antigen contains predominately n-acetyl neuraminic acid, with small amounts of glucose, glucosamine, and mannose, whereas the group Y antigen contains glucose, glucosamine, and mannose. The molecular weights of the group C and Y antigens were found to be 88,000 and 197,000, respectively. The group C antigen was susceptible to neuraminidase digestion. Finally, the immunological reactivity of neither antigen was inhibited in hemagglutination or immunodiffusion systems by neutral or substituted sugars.
Aerospace Medical Laboratory (Clinical), Wilford Hall USAF Medical Center, and USAF Epidemiological Laboratory, Lackland Air Force Base, Texas 78236.
M A
MA
Apicella
J A
JA
Robinson