Specific polysaccharides of the lipopolysaccharides of Gram-negative bacteria

Abstract

This review generalizes the result of structural investigations of the polysaccharides of the O-specific side chains of the lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) of the most studied representations of the family Enterobacteriaceae. The O-specific polysaccharides are the serologically dominating part of the molecule that is responsible for the O-antigenic specificity of the LPSs. The structures of the specific polysacchrides from various Gram-positive bacteria are given. The serological specificity of the O-antigens is discussed and a connection is shown between the chemical structures of the polysaccharides and their serological affinity.