Antigenic glycolipids of Mycobacterium fortuitum based on trehalose acylated with 2‐methyloctadec‐2‐enoic acid

Abstract

Three characteristic glycolipids were identified in extracts of 10 representative strains of Mycobacterium fortuitum. The two most polar major lipids were shown to be antigens with strong reactions against homologous antiserum and sera raised against Mycobacterium tuberculosisH37Rv. Both of these lipids were shown to be acyl trehaloses, containing substantial amounts of 2‐methyloctadec‐2‐enoic acid in addition to straight‐chain and monounsaturated acids. These lipids correspond to ‘mycoside F’, lipids previously identified by infra‐red spectroscopy in extracts of Myco. fortuitum. Copyright © 1993, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved