Serological cross-reaction of intact as well as chemically modified LPS from O1 Vibrio cholerae 569B (Inaba) with non-O1 V. cholerae Hakata LPS, which contain alpha(1-->2)-linked N-acetyl
perosamine-homopolymer constituting their O
polysaccharide chain, was studied by passive
hemolysis test by using their LPS as
antigen for sensitizing sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The N-deacylation of the alpha(1-->2)-linked linear 3-deoxy-tetronyl
perosamine-homopolymer constituting the O
polysaccharide chain in 569B LPS resulted in virtual elimination of their serological reactivity with both homologous Inaba and heterologous Hakata
antisera. Furthermore, when the resultant NH2 groups of the N-deacylated
perosamine-homopolymers in 569B LPS were N-acylated with
acetyl, propionyl or butanoyl groups, they markedly recovered the serological reactivity to a marked extent, in particular, their pronounced cross-serological reactivity with heterologous Hakata antiserum. These results are believed to be compatible with the interpretation that the Inaba
antigen factor C possessed by the two bacteria studied is related to the common occurrence of the N-acyl groups, regardless of what the acyl groups are, residing in the
perosamine residues of the
perosamine-homopolymers constituting the O
polysaccharide chain of their LPS.