Saccharides of seven Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotypes.

The structures of O-specific polysaccharides obtained by mild acid degradation of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from seven Pseudomonas aeruginosa Fisher's immunotypes have been studied. The polysaccharides consist mainly of monoamino and diamino sugars, frequently also carrying acidic functions. Some of the sugars were detected in nature for the first time in these organisms. The structures of the O-specific polysaccharides of the immunotypes 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are identical to those of the polysaccharides of the 011; 0(2a)2c; 01; 010a, 10b and 07a, 7d Lányi-Bergan serological subgroups respectively, whereas no analogues have been found for the immunotypes 1 and 7. Some cross-reactions between the LPS of different immunotypes were observed in passive haemagglutination tests; the results of inhibition of passive haemagglutination and agar gel immunoprecipitation point, however, to a specificity of the LPS. Many of the LPS of the seven Pseudomonas aeruginosa immunotypes manifest rather a high cross-protective activity in active immunization tests in mice. The nature of the cross-protective activity of the LPS is discussed.