Chemical Analysis and Inhibition Reactions of the Group and Type Antigens of Group F Streptococci

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Abstract
Qualitative and quantitative analyses of formamide extracts of group-F streptococci revealed rhamnose, glucose, galactose, glucosamine and galactosamine as main components. This rhamnose content was high. Streptococci, carrying a type antigen in the cell wall, excreted into the medium also a polysaccharide with the same serological activity. These soluble polysaccharides contained no muramic-acid, small amounts of rhamnose, but had a high glucosamine and mannose content. Column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose revealed the formamide extracts to be heterogeneous. Over 90% of the serological activity could be recovered in one of the fractions. Inhibition reactions of the quantitative precipitation with a number of simple sugars gave indications about the composition of the determinant groups of group and type antigens. Rhamnose was inactive in all cases. The determinant group of the group-F antigen is at least a disaccharide with a [beta]-glucosidic moiety. The determinants of the type antigens-I and -II probably contain N-acetyl-galactosamine. There is evidence for a second determinant in type antigen-II The determinants of type antigens-III and -V contain a [beta]-glucosicid moiety, that of antigen-IV a [beta]-galactosidic moiety.