ENZYMATIC DETECTION OF BACTERIAL CAPSULAR POLYSACCHARIDES CONAINING ALPHA 2,8-LINKED N-ACETYL NEURAMIC ACID UNITS

摘要

A substantially pure enzyme which hydrolyzes a polymer containing an alpha 2,8-linked N-acetyl neuraminic acid is obtained from K1-specific bateriophages and used for assays of bacterial polysaccharides in samples such as cerebrospinal fluid for testing for various disorders such as bacterial meningitis, septicemia, bacteremia, and the like. The enzyme may also be used therapeutically in treating such disorders by attacking cells which have an increased level of a polymer containing an alpha 2,8-linked N-acetyl neuraminic acid.