Filamentous capsulated streptococci from the human respiratory tract: chemical and immunochemical characterization of the polysaccharide capsular antigen of provisional binary capsular type 87.

The polysaccharide capsular antigen of the filamentous binary capsulated streptococcus of provisional type 87 and the polysaccharide capsular antigens of two pneumoccal strains transformed with deoxyribonucleic acid of streptococus type 87 have been purified and analyzed with regard to their component monosaccharides. The purified polysaccharides from the three strains were immunochemically identical. Each was found to contain rhamnose, glucose, galactose, galactosamine, and phosphate. Rhamnose was the immunodominant sugar.