The polysaccharide from Bacillus anthracis grown in vivo

Abstract

A purified polysaccharide, obtained by mild treatment from B. anthracis grown in vivo showed no evidence for heterogeneity in a number of tests. The preparation is composed of N-acetylglucosamine and galactose in approximately equimolecular proportions, together with small amounts of O-acetyl (2.3%) and amino acid residues (2-3%). The polysaccharide plays no important role in virulence, and shows only one component in prolonged electrophoresis and in sedimentation, both at pH 8 and pH 4.5. The molecular weight, calculated from the diffusion coefficient and the sedimentation coefficient at infinite dilution and the partial specific volume (0.656), is 29,000; the frictional ratio is 2.0.