GLYCOSYL TRANSFERASES OF O-ANTIGEN BIOSYNTHESIS IN SALMONELLA-ENTERICA - IDENTIFICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF TRANSFERASE GENES OF GROUP-B, GROUP-C2, AND GROUP-E1

In Salmonella enterica, there is a great variety of O antigens, each c onsisting of a short oligosaccharide (the repeating unit) repeated man y times. The O antigens differ in their sugar composition and glycosid ic linkages. The genetic determinants of the O antigen are located in an rfb gene cluster, and some, including those of S. enterica O serogr oups B, C2, and E1, have been cloned and sequenced. In this study of t he glycosyltransferases which form the glycosidic linkages, we identif y and characterize the four mannosyl and three rhamnosyl transferase g enes of the three rgb gene clusters.