[Isolation and characteristics of a specific polysaccharide of group-B meningococci].

The optimum conditions for the isolation and purification of the specific polysaccharide of group B meningococci have been developed. The advantages of the use of synthetic culture media for growing the initial bacterial culture have been demonstrated. The purified polysaccharides have been found to contain about 70% of sialic acid and less than 1% of protein and nucleic acid admixtures. The molecular parameters of group B polysaccharide depended on the growth phase of the bacterial culture. The most valuable culture was obtained at the exponential phase of growth. High serological activity and specificity of the polysaccharide in the passive hemagglutination test recommend it for studies on the development of diagnostic and prophylactic preparations.