[Comparative study of the chemical composition and properties of the capsule polysaccharides in M-, S- and R-variants of Mycobacterium lacticolum]

Polysaccharides from the capsules of Mycobacterium lacticolum M, S and R variants were comparatively studied for the first time. The polysaccharides from M and S cells contained galactose, glucose and mannose; however, the polysaccharides must be different since they vary in specific rotation. The capsule polysaccharide from R cells contained also arabinose. Its specific rotation differed considerably from those of M and S cells. The polysaccharides are involved in phage adsorption on mycobacterial cells, and the three variants show differences in this respect. The free exopolysaccharides of M, S and R variants are identical with the corresponding capsule exoglycans, and their proportions differ among the variants.