Artificial Trans formation of O Antigens in Salmonella E Group. I. Transformation by Antiserum and Bacterial Autolysate

Abstract

Transformation of O antigens of subgroups E₁, E₂ and E₃ of Salmonella E group was attempted by the actions of antiserum and autolysate, with the following results: 1. When S. london 1446, S. give 316 and S. anatum 293 of subgroup E₁ were cultured in broth with the autolysate of subgroup E₂, bacilli possessing III, XV antigen of subgroup E₂ were obtained. But when anti-X serum, specific to subgroup E₁, was allowed to react, no bacillus which had antigen transformed was produced. Namely, O antigen was transformed in the direction E₁→E₂ by the action of bacterial autolysate of subgroup E₂. 2. When S. selandia 7482 and S. new-brunswick 5411 of subgroup E₂ were cultured through successive generations in broth containing anti-XV serum, bacilli which possessed III, X antigen of subgroup E₁ were obtained. When S. senftenberg 3007 of subgroup E₃ was cultured in broth containing anti-I, XIX serum, a bacillus possessing III, XV antigen of subgroup E₂ was obtained. But when bacillus of subgroup E₂ was cultured in broth containing autolysates of E₁ and E₂, respectively, and when bacillus of subgroup E₃ was cultured in broth containing autolysates of E₁ and E₂, respectively, no bacilli which had antigens transformed were observed. Namely, by the action of antiserum, transformation of antigen was caused in the direction E₃→E₂ →E₁. 3. Thus, transformation of O antigens can be produced between subgroups of Salmonella E group, but flagellar antigens in the transformed bacilli retained the same structures as in the original bacilli.