The immunochemistry of Shigella flexneri O-antigens: a serological classification of rough mutants

摘要

Shigella flexneri rough mutants were divided into rough serotypes 1, 2, 3 and 4 by studying the homologous and heterologous reactions of their lipopolysaccharide components in a complement fixation test. The four serotypes corresponded with the classification of these lipopolysaccharides into four chemotypes on the basis of their qualitative sugar composition. As the molecular structures of the four chemotypes have been elucidated, the proposed classification of Sh. flexneri R-mutants was related to their chemical structure as well as their serological behaviour.