Antigenic properties of L-forms of salmonella typhosa

Summary

The stabilized culture of the L-form ofS. typhosa retains its species specificity, largely loses the H-antigen and to a lesser degree the O-antigen. The precipitation reaction in gel has aided in detecting an additional antigenic component, absent in the initial culture in the antigenic complex obtained from the L-form culture by alternating freezing and thawing.

The changes in the antigenic structure during the process of L-transformation are accompanied by significant changes in the chemical composition. Apparently these changes concern not only the process of biosynthesis of cellular walls (as for instance the loss of rhamnose, glucosamine reduction, etc.) but also the biosynthesis of the cytoplasm and of the nuclear apparatus of the cell (reduction of the total nitrogen, phosphorus and nucleic acid content). The formation of an additional antigenic component during the process of L-transformation coincides with the appearance of an additional nonidentified sugar, which was absent in the initial typhoid culture.