Somatic Antigens of <em>Shigella</em>.

The O-specific polysaccharide obtained from Shigella dysenteriae type-2 lipopolysaccharide by mild acid hydrolysis consisted of N-acetylgalactosamine, N-acetylglucosamine, D-galactose, D-glucose, and O-acetyl group in the ratio of 2:1:1:1:1. A number of oligosaccharides were obtained by deamination of the N-deacetylated polysaccharide and by Smith degradation of the both native and O-deacetylated polysaccharides. The identification of oligosaccharides along with methylation analysis and chromic anhydride oxidation showed that the polysaccharide was built up of the repeating pentasaccharide units whose proposed structure is given below: -3αD-GalNAcp1-3αD-GalNAcp1-4αD-Glcp1-4βD-Galp1-3(4)AcαD-GlcNAcp1 [This symbol cannot be presented in ASCII format] Serological properties of Sh. dysenteriae O-specific polysaccharides are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]