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. 1972 Nov;6(5):773–778. doi: 10.1128/iai.6.5.773-778.1972

Physicochemical Properties of Neisseria meningitidis Group X Polysaccharide Antigen

M A Apicella 1, John A Robinson 2
PMCID: PMC422609  PMID: 4629206

Abstract

Neisseria meningitidis group X occurs in human carrier populations and is rarely implicated in serious disease. This organism possesses a capsular group antigen which is an acidic polysaccharide. It is composed of the amino sugars, glucosamine, glucosamine-6-phosphate, galactosamine, and the simple hexose, glucose. The group X capsular antigen has an S20,w0 of 3.6, and the acidic nature of the polysaccharide is reflected in an isoelectric point of 3.65. The meningococcal A, B, C, and Y polysaccharide group antigens are also composed primarily of amino sugars. The chemical composition of the group X antigen most closely resembles the capsular antigen of N. meningitidis group Y, which is also predominately a carrier organism.

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Selected References

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