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J Bacteriol. 1969 October; 100(1): 58-63
Copyright © 1969 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Mycobacterial Polysaccharides II. Comparison of Polysaccharides from Strains of Four Species of Mycobacteria¹

^a Mycobacterial Antigen Study Group, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 20005

ABSTRACT

Evidence from chemical and serological studies indicates that a cellular heteropolysaccharide, also found in lipid extracts and culture filtrate, is present as a group antigen in Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra and in other strains of mycobacteria representing M. kansasii, scotochromogenic and Battey strains. Polysaccharides from the four strains contain the same main sugars, arabinose, and galactose, as revealed by thin-layer chromatography and spectrophotometric studies. In Ouchterlony gel diffusions, bands of identity are produced between the polysaccharides by using rabbit antiserum prepared against any of the four mycobacteria. Immune adsorption studies also confirm the presence of identical antigenic determinant groups. In skin tests with tuberculopolysaccharide I, a skin reaction of about equal size was elicited in guinea pigs sensitized with either M. tuberculosis H37Ra or heterologous mycobacterial antigens in Freund's incomplete adjuvant. In animals sensitized with M. tuberculosis H37Ra, skin tests with both homologous and heterologous polysaccharides elicited similar responses.

¹ Presented in part before the Medical Sessions at the Annual Meeting of the American Thoracic Society in Houston, Tex., 21 May 1968. The paper is based upon a dissertation submitted by Susan E. Birnbaum to The George Washington University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree.