STRUCTURE OF THE POLYSACCHARIDE O-ANTIGEN OF SALMONELLA-RIOGRANDE O/40 (GROUP-R) RELATED TO BLOOD GROUP-A ACTIVITY

The structure of the Salmonella O:40 (Group R) antigen was determined from an analysis of the antigenic O-polysaccharide component of the lipopolysaccharide produced by Salmonella riogrande O:40. Using H-1- and C-13-NMR spectroscopy, methylation analysis, and periodate degradation methods, the O-polysaccharide was found to be a high molecular weight branched polymer of repeating pentasaccharide units having the structure: [GRAPHICS] The reported human blood group A activity was concluded to reside in an epitope of a terminal trisaccharide portion of the O-chain involving alpha-D-GalpNAc and beta-D-GlcpNAc residues linked (1 --> 3) and (1 --> 2), respectively, to beta-D-Manp branched residues in which the alpha-D-GalpNAc residue would appear to be the critical antigenic factor recognized by polyclonal blood group A antisera.