Immunochemical characterization of Citrobacter strain PCM 1487 O-specific polysaccharide- and core oligosaccharide-protein conjugates.

O-specific-polysaccharide and core oligosaccharide were isolated from Citrobacter strain PCM 1487 lipopolysaccharide and purified. The polysaccharide was selectively devoid of 4-deoxy-D-arabinohexose residues. Covalent conjugates of the modified O-specific polysaccharide and of the core oligosaccharide with tetanus toxoid were prepared. Immunochemical characterization of these conjugates proved that they are strong immunogens. Using monospecific rabbit antisera raised against the conjugates, the antigenic relationships between lipopolysaccharides of various strains of Citrobacter, Shigella sonnei, and Shigella flexneri were studied by quantitative microprecipitin and quantitative microprecipitin inhibition and immunoblotting tests.