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Structural studies of the Escherichia coli K93 and K53 capsular polysaccharides
1Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
Abstract:
The structures of the Escherichia coli K93 and K53 capsular polysaccharides have been investigated by chemical and spectroscopic methods. The repeating unit of both polymers was found to be----3)-beta-D-Galf-(1----f)-beta-D-GlcAp-(1. The O-5 and O-6 atoms of D-galactose are acetylated in the repeating unit of the K93 polymer, but only O-2 is acetylated in the K53 polymer. The K93 polysaccharide is cross-reactive with the Neisseria meningitidis Group A capsular polysaccharide (of known structure). The K53 polysaccharide, although structurally similar to that from K93 organisms, does not cross-react with the Group A polymer.