Abstract
Summary
The preparation, purification, and partial chemical and immunochemical characterization of a polysaccharide slime layer material synthesized by strains of Staphylococcus aureus when cultured on a modified staphylococcus 110 medium has been described. The polysaccharide was found to be composed of galactose, glucuronic acid, galacturonic acid, glycerol phosphate, and some glucose. Glycine, alanine, glutamic acid, and proline were also associated with highly purified preparations of the polysaccharide. Reaction of the purified slime layer material with antisera prepared against several strains of S. aureus revealed 1 or 2 antigens depending upon the serum used. A classical precipitin curve could be demonstrated, but hapten inhibition studies did not reveal the immunodominant determinant.
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