Biological Activities of Endotoxins from Yersinia enterocolitica

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Abstract
The chemical properties and the general biological activities of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and Boivin-type endotoxin obtained, respectively, by phenol-water and trichloroacetic acid extraction from Y. enterocolitica serotypes O3 and O9 were studied. The yield of LPS from the O9 strain was .apprx. 10% of the O3 strain possibly because of the lower solubility of O9-LPS in aqueous phase. The chemical composition of O9-LPS was similar to that of O3-LPS in the proportions of reducing sugar, glucosamine, heptose, KDO [2-keto-3-deoxy-octonic acid] and lipid A. In pyrogenicity and local Shwartzman reactivity in rabbits and lethality for mice, there was also no difference between O3 and O9-LPS. The anthrone-positive carbohydrate and lipid A contents of Boivin-type endotoxin from O3 were higher than those of the endotoxin from O9. The biological activities of Boivin-type endotoxin from O3 were also remarkably higher than those of the endotoxin from O9. Endotoxin of Y. enterocolitica serotype O3 may play an important role in infection by this organism.