A comparative study of the sugar composition of lipopolysaccharides isolated from Vibrio cholerae, 'Vibrio albensis' and Vibrio metschnikovii.

A comparative study was made of the quantitative sugar composition of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) isolated from Vibrio cholerae (O1 and non O1 groups), 'V. albensis', 'V. proteus' and V. metschnikovii. The amino sugars 4-amino-4,6-dideoxy-D-mannose (perosamine) and 2-amino-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (quinovosamine) were present exclusively in LPS isolated from S-form O1 group of V. cholerae regardless of serotype (i.e. Ogawa or Inaba) and biotype (i.e. classical or eltor). Classical O1 group V. cholerae was distinguishable from eltor O1 group V. cholerae on the basis of the fructose content of the LPS: greater than 3% and less than or equal to 1%, respectively. Distinct differences in the sugar composition of LPS were observed between V. cholerae and 'V. albensis', 'V. proteus' and V. metschnikovii.