Structural and immunochemical studies on O-specific polysaccharide of Proteus penneri strain 14.

The complete structure of the O-antigen of Proteus penneri strain 14, containing D-alanine and L-alanine was established using methylation, solvolysis with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride, partial acid hydrolysis, 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy. The role of partial structures of the pentasaccharide repeating unit in manifesting serological specificity and cross-reactivity of this strain with some other bacteria is discussed.