ANTIGENIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN GROUPS B AND G STREPTOCOCCI

Abstract

Trypsinized cell walls of Group-B hemolytic streptococci are composed of a group-specific carbohydrate and mucopeptide. The carbohydrate extracted with hot formamide is composed of rhamnose, N-acetylglucosamine and galactose. The significant component of the antigenic determinant is L-rhamnose. The cross-reactivity between B- and G-carbohydrates is dependent upon the fact that L-rhamnose is a determinant sugar in both antigens.