[Potential use of the monosaccharide composition of bacteria for their identification]

The monosaccharide composition of cell hydrolysates can be used as a criterion for the chemical differentiation of gram-positive bacteria. The monosaccharide composition of six bacterial species belonging to the genus Bacillus has been determined using gas chromatography, mass spectrometry and computers. The qualitative composition was similar, glucose, galactose, ribose and glucosamine being the main components in all of the species. Some Bacillus species differed in their minor components. Although the monosaccharide composition appeared to be homogeneous, bacteria can be identified in terms of their carbohydrate profile using computers. To this end, the monosaccharide composition of bacterial cells is represented as a two-dimensional data file including the qualitative composition of components and the quantity of each component.