Outer cell envelope glycoprotein from two strains of Serratia marcescens

Cell envelope glycoproteins were extracted with sodium dodecyl sulfate from isolated cell walls of two strains of Serratia marcescens and purified by gel filtration column chromatography on Sepharose 4B. There was no significant difference in the chemical composition. Both fractions contained approximately 50% proteins and 10% carbohydrates. Glucosamine and glucose were identified as the only sugar components in the carbohydrate moiety. Immunochemically they shared at least one common antigenic component with each other and possibly with their corresponding lipopolysaccharide fractions.