Chemical composition and biological activity of lipopolysaccharides prepared from type strains of Campylobacter jejuni and Campolybacter coli.

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were extracted from seven type strains of Campylobacter jejuni and one type strain of Campylobacter coli with 45 per cent aqueous phenol. The sugar components present in all LPS were glucose, galactose, L-glycero-D-manno-heptose, 2-keto-3-deoxy-octulosonic acid and glucosamine. All but one LPS contained galactosamine, and two strains contained in addition mannose. The fatty acids present were 3-hydroxy-tetradecanoic acid, n-hexadecanoic acid and trace amounts of n-tetradecanoic acid. The LPS preparations examined showed anti-complementary effect, and were able to gelatinize Limulus amoebocyte lysate. LPS of the C.jejuni strain tested (NCTC 11168) was found to be lethal for mice and to produce the local Shwartzman reaction in rabbits.