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. 1984 Feb;60(1):8–13. doi: 10.1136/sti.60.1.8

Treponema pallidum does not synthesise in vitro a capsule containing glycosaminoglycans or proteoglycans.

R A Strugnell, C J Handley, D A Lowther, S Faine, S R Graves
PMCID: PMC1046262  PMID: 6365238

Abstract

Treponema pallidum was investigated for its ability to synthesise glycosaminoglycans or proteoglycans in vitro. Isolated viable T pallidum organisms were incubated with radiolabelled precursors of glycosaminoglycans, sodium 35S-sulphate and 3H-glucosamine (tritiated glucosamine). T pallidum failed to incorporate sodium 35S-sulphate but did incorporate 3H-glucosamine into a macromolecule which may be associated with the surface of the treponeme. This macromolecule was resistant to degradation by specific glycosaminoglycanases. We conclude that T pallidum does not synthesise a capsule containing glycosaminoglycans in vitro.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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