IMMUNOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL STUDIES OF SALMONELLA HAARLEM SOMATIC ANTIGEN EPITOPES - I - STRUCTURAL STUDIES OF O-ANTIGEN

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Salmonella haarlem was hydrolyzed and the products separated. The structure of the O-specific polysaccharide (OP S) was found from sugar and methylation analyses. Rhamnose, mannose, g alactose and tyvelose were detected and their linkage modes were estab lished. The structure was confirmed by H-1, homonuclear and heteronucl ear correlations and C-13 NMR spectra. Anomeric configurations were as signed by chromium trioxide oxidation and proton coupled C-13 spectra. Sugar sequence was established from specific carbon shift data and nu clear Overhauser effect spectroscopy. The repeating unit structure of S. haarlem OPS as --> 3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1 --> 6)-[alpha-Tyvp-(1 --> 3)] -beta-D-Manp-(1 --> 4)-alpha-L-Rhap was estimated. No structural heter ogeneity of the antigen was found. (C) 1998 Federation of European Mic robiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.