Abstract
Summary
A bacterial carbohydrate-containing group-specific antigen of N. meningitidis has been identified to be of a high molecular weight (mean 140,000) by sedimentation equilibration and greater than 200, 000 by Sephadex G-200. This antigen was proved to be of serological importance for the measurement of antibody by PHA technique. Enzymatic digestion, with RNase, DNase, and trypsin, along with selective methods of isolating polysaccharides, was performed without appreciably diminishing the HA activity. Satisfactory levels of carbohydrate for sensitization of RBC were from 6 to 10 μg/ml (A, C, and 29E), 25 μg/ml (B) and 0.08 μg/ml (Bo). The concentration requirements of the group-specific carbohydrates were discussed along with the possibility of a multivalent molecule with both CF and HA activity and the likely difference in size of antigenic determinants.
Appreciation is expressed to G. Barlow, Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois, for his technical assistance, and to Mrs. Lula Duggan for the preparation of this manuscript.
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