Capsular polymer of Haemophilus influenzae, type b. I. Structural characterization of the capsular polymer of strain Eagan.

The capsular type-specific antigen of Haemophilus influenzae, type b, has been reported to have a unit structure composed of D-ribose and phosphate. Recently, the presence of ribitol was found in preparations of type b capsular antigen. Our analytical results show equimolar proportions of ribose, ribitol, and phosphate. Periodate oxidation studies, paper chromatography of acidic and alkaline hydrolysates, and NMR spectral data indicate the structure of the capular antigen of H. influenzae b, strain Eagan to be a polyribosylribitol phosphate polymer.