| Abstract: | Genetic and immunoelectrophoretic studies confirm earlier data on the presence of 2 specific antigens of acidic nature in S. newcastle; one of them is a specific thermolabile K-antigen responsible for type IV specificity of these bacteria. The data concerning the differences in the genetic determinants controlling the synthesis of O- and K-antigens in S. newcastle have been obtained. S. newcastle O- and K-antigens did not react with S. flexneri in the group serum system 3, 4, which indicates that S. newcastle are serologically isolated and form a separate taxonomic group of dysentery bacteria. The existence of cross reactions between S. flexneri and S. newcastle due to the presence of neutral R-core antigens common to these 2 species has been shown . Immunoelectrophoresis in agar is the most promising and informative method in genetic and chemical studies of the antigenic structure of bacteria. |
