title: [Sialic acids and O-acetyl groups as markers of biological activity of microbial polysaccharides in plague and cholera agents].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine sialic acids and O-acetyl groups content in Yersinia pestis and Vibrio cholerae antigens in order to establish their association with biological activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following antigens of Y. pestis EV NIIEG strain--capsular antigen (F1), major somatic antigen (MSA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Pla-protease, allergen pestin PP--as well as O-antigens (O-AG) of V. cholerae serogroups O1 and O139 were used in the study. Sialic acids were identified by the thiobarbituric method, and O-acetyl groups--according to Alicino. Specific polysaccharides in the MSA and O-antigens were detected by the immunodiffusion assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sialic acids were found in LPS, Pla-protease, allergen pestin PP, and all cholera O-AG; their absence was demonstrated in MSA and F1. O-acetyl groups were identified in cholera O-AG of both studied serogroups as well as in LPS, Pla-protease, MSA and pestin PP of Y. pestis. Tendency to correlation between O-acetyl groups content in MSA and serological activity titer was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sialic acids and O-acetyl groups identified in carbohydrate-containing antigens of Y. pestis and V. cholerae could be characterized as reaction-active markers of pathogenetic mechanisms of cholera and plague infections as well as immunochemical activity of microbial polysaccharides.
authors: O V
authors: OV
authors: Gromova
authors: V I
authors: VI
authors: Pavlova
authors: T M
authors: TM
authors: Taranenko
authors: N P
authors: NP
authors: Guseva
authors: M N
authors: MN
authors: Kireev
authors: T A
authors: TA
authors: Khramchenkova