[Immunochemical studies of O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus penneri 42 lipopolysaccharide]

O-specific polysaccharide was obtained an mild acid degradation of Proteus penneri strain 42 lipopolysaccharide and found to contain D-glucose, D-galacturonic acid and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose in molar ratio 2:1:1. Methylation analysis showed that the polysaccharide is linear, one of the glucose residue is substituted at position 2, the second one and the residue of galacturonic acid at position 4, and the 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose residue at position 3. On the basis of non-destructive NMR analysis the following structure of repeat unit of the O-specific polysaccharide was established and confirmed independently by methylation analysis: -2)-beta-D-Glc-(1-->4)-beta-D-Glc-(1-->3)-beta-D-GlcNAc-(1-->4)-al fa-D-GalA-(1--> The serological investigation with application of P. penneri strain 42 anti O-serum has shown the activity of homologous preparations of LPS and PS, as well as cross-reactions with heterologous lipopolysaccharides from other Proteus strains.