Polyglutamic acid from Bacillus anthracis grown in vivo: structure and aggressin activity

Abstract

Polyglutamic acid showing no evidence for heterogeneity was obtained from capsules of B. anthracis grown in infected guinea pigs and from the body fluids of the host. Isolation involved only mild treatment. Studies on partial hydrolysates showed that the glutamic acid residues in these materials were linked by their [gamma] -carboxyl groups. The polyglutamic acids are associated with the aggressive action of B. anthracis in vivo. Their antiphagocytic activity appears to be due to the multivalent negative ion.