[The K antigens of Escherichia coli (author's transl)]

The development of the serology of Escherichia coli, especially the present division of the antigen into L, B, and A antigens is described. Only the A antigen should be regarded as a capsular antigen whereas L and B antigens are to be considered as envelope antigens. Immunoelectrophoretic studies by Orskov & Orskov (1972) on the K antigens and O antigens of Escherichia coli revealed that the strains could be placed into a few well defined groups according to migration patterns of the O antigens and of the thermostable polysaccharide K antigens. Orskov's et al proposed new criteria for K antigens and studies on the importance of K antigens as determinants of virulence in Escherichia coli are presented