The capsular polysaccharide of Klebsiella serotype K60; a novel, structural pattern

Non-linear capsular polysaccharides of Klebsiella bacteria usually have a single side-chain per repeating unit, or, less commonly, two side-chains attached to the same unit. The capsular polysaccharide from Klebsiella serotype K60 is unique in having three side-chains in the heptasaccharide repeating-unit shown. The structure, including the configuration of the glycosidic linkages, was established mainly by characterization of the oligosaccharides obtained by partial hydrolysis of both the original, capsular polysaccharide and the polymer resulting from the removal, by Smith degradation, of the side chains (Formula, see text).