Abstract

The capsular polysaccharide from Bacteroides fragilis strain NCTC 9343 contained six sugars: l-fucose, d-galactose, d- and l-quinovosamine, d-glucosamine, and galacturonic acid. The capsule of B. fragilis strain ATCC 23745 in addition contained d-glucose, l-fucosamine, l-rhamnosamine, and a 3-amino-3,6-dideoxyhexose, but lacked d-quinovosamine. The latter capsule also contained alanine (4%). The lipopolysaccharide of both strains contained the same sugars (l-rhamnose, d-glucose, d-galactose, and d-glucosamine) and fatty acids (13-methyltetradecanoic, 3-hydroxypentadecanoic as major constituents). The capsular polysaccharide of both strains promoted abscess formation, whereas the lipopolysaccharide failed to do so.

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