Wax D fraction of an unclassified Mycobacterium strain.

Wax D prepared from the P-6 strain of the scotochromogenic species of Mycobacterium scrofulaceum constituted 0.3% of the dry bacilli. In the acid hydrolysates, alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, and mesodiaminopimelic acid were found as amino acid constituents. Mannose, galactose, and glucosamine were detected by paper chromatography. However, arabinose could not be detected. The quantity of hexosamine was 0.2 to 0.3%. Wax D of P-6 was found to be adjuvant-active, as revealed by a positive corneal reaction. The antigenicity of wax D of P-6 was shown by the agglutination reaction between the suspension of wax D and the anti-wax D antiserum. Periodate oxidation of the hydrosoluble portion reduced the inhibitory effect of the hydrosoluble portion on agglutination of the suspension of wax D. The light fraction of wax D had a peptide portion consisting of alanine, glutamic acid, glycine, and diaminopimelic acid and was found to be adjuvant-active in an amount of 1,000 mug.