Structure of the O-antigen of Francisella tularensis strain 15.

The O-specific polysaccharide, obtained by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Francisella tularensis strain 15, contained 2-acetamido-2,6-dideoxy-D-glucose (D-QuiNAc), 4,6-dideoxy-4-formamido-D-glucose (D-Qui4NFm), and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-galacturonamide (D-GalNAcAN) in the ratios 1:1:2. Tri- and tetra-saccharide fragments were obtained on treatment of the polysaccharide with anhydrous hydrogen fluoride and partial hydrolysis with 0.1 M hydrochloric acid, respectively. On the basis of 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. spectroscopy of the polysaccharide and the saccharides, it was concluded that the O-antigen had the structure: ----4)-alpha-D-GalpNAcAN-(1----4)-alpha-D-GalpNAcAN-(1----3) -beta-D-QuipNAc-(1----2)-beta-D-Quip4NFm-(1----. This O-antigen is related in structure to those of Pseudomonas aeruginosa O6, immunotype 1, and IID 1008, and Shigella dysenteriae type 7.