Identification of sialic acid in polysaccharide antigens of group B Streptococcus

Abstract

By means of paper chromatographic techniques with purified, sialic acid containing, bacterial antigen standards, sialic acid, as well as galactose and glucosamine, have been identified as components of each type specific antigen of group B Streptococcus. Rhamnose was not detected in the group B antigen isolated by the classical HCl and heat extraction method.