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Infect Immun. 1971 December; 4(6): 725-730
Copyright © 1971 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Characterization of the Group Antigen of Chlamydia trachomatis

¹ Department of Pathobiology, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195

ABSTRACT

A lipid complement-fixing group antigen is shared by all chlamydiae including trachoma organisms. A water-soluble polysaccharide antigen was obtained by alkali saponification from partially purified water-insoluble lipid antigen preparations made from three trachoma strains. The extracted antigen failed to fix complement with antibody but was capable, as a hapten, of inhibiting complement fixation by prior reaction with the antibody. This antigen diffused readily in agarose, producing a reaction of identity with several trachoma strains. The antigen could also be absorbed onto untreated rabbit red blood cells for passive hemagglutination. It is concluded that polysaccharide antigen is responsible for the group reactivity of these organisms and can be obtained from the lipid antigen by alkali saponification.