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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1973 August; 26(2): 129-133
Copyright © 1973 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Conditions That Affect the Colorimetric Analysis of Lipopolysaccharide from Escherichia coli and Treponema pallidum

Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77025
Department of Dermatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77025

ABSTRACT

Material extracted from the Nichols nonpathogenic strain of Treponema pallidum by phenol-water was analyzed by employing a recently reported colorimetric test for detection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The fraction isolated from T. pallidum, in combination with the reagent dye, absorbed maximally at a wavelength in the range reported to be positive for LPS. Comparison of this reaction to that of a commercial preparation of Escherichia coli LPS revealed that time and temperature of incubation of the LPS-dye complexes were important variables which had marked but different effects on the LPS of the two sources. However, with careful control of these parameters, concentration-dependent standard curves were established for LPS of both sources. Our results indicate the cell wall of T. pallidum is similar to that of gram-negative organisms.