Characterization of a Yersinia enterocolitica antigen common to enterocolitis-associated serotypes.

Yersinia enterocolitica synthesized an exocellular antigen common to the serotypes associated with enterocolitis but absent from other serotypes or from other Yersinia species. Both virulent Ca2+-dependent and avirulent Ca2+-independent isogenic pairs derived from the enterocolitis-associated serotypes synthesized the common antigen. Requirements for the synthesis of this common antigen were (i) the presence of metabolizable sugars and (ii) growth on a solid medium at 37 degrees C. The antigen was identified as a 24,000-dalton protein loosely associated with the cell surface but absent from either the cell envelope or the cytoplasmic fraction.