Immunochemical studies on a Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 lipopolysaccharide cross-reacting with Brucella abortus and Vibrio cholerae extracts.

The presence of two distinct lipopolysaccharides in Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 is described: one isolated from the aqueous phase and one from the phenol phase (Westphal system). The sugar moiety of the phenol phase lipopolysaccharide has been identified as being responsible for the serologic cross-reaction of Y. enterocolitica O:9, Brucella abortus and Vibrio cholerae. The phenol phase antigen consists of glucose, galactose, glucosamine, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonic acid, heptose, lipid A and a protein moiety. Haemagglutination experiments revealed two different structures: one that readily coats erythrocytes and another that requires alkali treatment. The former may be separated by repeated adsorptions on erythrocytes. Serologically, the two structures behave like a single antigen. The action of normal rabbit serum on the erythrocyte-containg capacity of the two structures was studied.