Characterization of a polysaccharide from Carthamus tinctorius that cross reacts with type III pneumococcal polysaccharide.

Abstract

A water soluble polysaccharide from C. tinctorius flowers reacted with antisera specific to Types III and VIII Streptococcus pneumoniae. I.p. inoculation of mice with the polysaccharide caused the generation of splenic antibody-forming cells which were similar in specificity to those detected following immunization with Thpe III pneumococcal polysaccharide. Antiserum reactive to Type III pneumococcal polysaccharide was prepared by immunizing rabbits with the C. tinctorius polysaccharide. Chemical analysis of the polysaccharide showed it to consist mainly of xylose, fructose, galactose, glucose, arabinose, rhamnose and uronic acid.