The structure of the exocellular capsular polysaccharide expressed by
Escherichia coli O8:K48:H9 has been investigated by hydrolysis and met
hylation analysis, and by NMR spectroscopic studies of the polysacchar
ide and of the oligosaccharides generated by solvolysis with anhydrous
HF. The capsular polysaccharide was shown to have the repeating unit:
[GRAPHICS] where beta-L-Sugp represents 3-diacetamido-2,3,6-trideoxy-
beta-L-mannopyranose.