This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Veld, J. H. J. H. I. Articles by Tom, A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Veld, J. H. J. H. I. Articles by Tom, A. Agricola Articles by Veld, J. H. J. H. I. Articles by Tom, A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1973 July; 26(1): 92-97
Copyright © 1973 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Analysis of Streptococcal Cell Wall Fractions by Curie-Point Pyrolysis Gas-Liquid Chromatography

Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Prevention Dentistry, State University of Utrecht, Catherijnesingel 59, Utrecht, The Netherlands
FOM Institute for Atomic and Molecular Physics, Amsterdam/Wgm, The Netherlands

ABSTRACT

A streptococcal strain, classified as Z₃III was differentiated from its mutant strain, Z₃, lacking the type III polysaccharide antigen, by Curie-point pyrolysis gas-liquid chromatography. Differences observed in pyrograms of whole cells or cell envelopes of both strains could be directly related to the pyrolysis pattern of the purified type III antigen. The same results were obtained when streptococcus F III and its mutant were analyzed. Whereas the pyrolysis patterns of the type III antigen extracted from Z₃III and F III bacteria were identical, marked differences were found in pyrograms of the serologically identical type III antigen isolated from the culture medium. Type III antigen was also easily differentiated from the purified type I, II and IV antigens. From the above findings it was concluded that pyrolysis gas-liquid chromatography can be used as a tool for the quality control and identification of streptococcal cell wall components.