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The exact chemical characterization of the prepared Escherichia coli K 1 capsule polysaccharide is necessary and a prerequisite for using this antigen as a screening antigen in the production of monoclonal anti-K 1-antibodies. The K 1-antigen, prepared by phenol-water-extraction, was analyzed by protein, RNA, and neuraminic acid determination. An addition, the antigen was subjected to elementary analysis, infrared- and 13C-NMR-spectroscopy, and gelchromatography. After testing the serological specificity, the K 1-antigen was identified as a high molecular polyneuraminic acid.

The influence of two different types of Escherichia coli K1 capsule preparation on the phagosytosis of an E. coli laboratory strain (LN 28) by polymorphnuclear leucocytes (PMNL) is described. Capsule material of E. coli 0.18 and 0.83 was prepared a) from the culture supernatant and b) from a bacterial pellet fraction. When capsule material from the pellet was added to opsonin, before mixing the laboratory strain with the PMNL, it decreased the rate of phagocytosis, compared with untreated opsonin. The preparation from the supernatant of capsule showed no alteration of phagocytosic rate or capacity. These results are explained by the different chemical compositions of the preparations.

Before screening monoclonal antibodies using enzyme immuno assays, it is necessary to prove that the coating of the solid phases occurs efficiently. The adhesion of whole cells of group B streptococci, Escherichia coli K1, Haemophilus influenzae type b and Candida albicans as well as B-Streptococcus group antigen, H. influenzae type b capsular antigen, and C. albicans cell wall antigen to polystyrene solid phases was studied and detected by the following methods:. Peroxidase competition procedure, scintillations measurement of 32phosphate-labelled germs, and reactions with monoclonal antibodies.

For mass cultivation of group B streptococci (B-III and B-variant streptococci), a fermenter dialysis culture technique is described and compared to conventional shaking culture and fermenter batch culture techniques. The influence of two kinds of cultivation media on the bacterial yield is demonstrated. The growth rate of the bacteria and the yield of the microbes is higher in modified POPE medium than that observed with Nahrbouillon I. The type-specific polysaccharide of B-III-streptococci prepared by phenol-water extraction followed by gel-chromatography can be used as a screening antigen for the production of monoclonal antibodies against B-III-streptococci.

For mass culture of Escherichia coli K1 a fermenter dialysis culture technique based on an artificial hollowfiber kidney and substrate feeding is described and compared with conventional shaking culture and fermenter batch culture techniques. Important growth parameters as bacterial dry weight, optical density and live cell counts demonstrate the advantage of this new method. On the basis of bacterial yields, effectivity had increased about 100 fold. The synthesis of K1 capsular polysaccharides, which is influenced by a number of factors, proved to be good. Thus it was possible to obtain the quantities of native capsular substances necessary for bed-side diagnostics and the investigation of this virulence marker.