Inhibiting materials for gamma phage adsorption to the cell wall of Bacillus anthracis, strain Pasteur No. 2-H.

Cell wall preparations of Bacillus anthracis, strain Pasteur No. 2-H, were treated with heat or with acetone and ether. Both of the treated cell walls preparations inactivated gamma phage. The centrifuged supernatant of the heat-treated cell walls was fractionated on Sephadex G-200, and four fractions containing reducing sugars were obtained. The first fraction had the phage-inactivating activity. On the other hand, the fourth fraction had no phage-inactivating activity, but strongly inhibited phage adsorption to the cell walls. In the fourth fraction, glutamic acid, alanine, 2,6-diaminopimelic acid and glucosamine were detected by paper chromatography after acid hydrolysis. Authentic D, L-2, 6-diaminopimelic acid and D-glucosamine markedly inhibited phage adsorption to the cell walls. D-Galactosamine, D-mannosamine and L-lysine also showed similar activities. Results suggest the possibility that one or a combination of these substances defines the characteristics of phage adsorption to the cell walls of B. anthracis, strain Pasteur No. 2-H.