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Infect Immun. 1973 April; 7(4): 573-577
Copyright © 1973 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Characterization of Mutants of Salmonella typhimurium by Counter-Current Distribution in an Aqueous Two-Polymer Phase System

The Department of Medical Microbiology, The Medical School, Linköping, Sweden

ABSTRACT

An aqueous, two-polymer phase system was employed in an attempt to separate and characterize a series of R mutants, derived from Salmonella typhimurium 395 MS, with differing lengths of lipopolysaccharide chains on their surfaces. R mutants with varying degrees of virulence and phagocytic resistance were unresolved in this system. However, the smooth MS bacteria were clearly separated from the rough cells and showed a high affinity for the polyethylene glycol-rich top phase. A uridine 5'-diphosphate-gal-4-epimeraseless mutant, phenotypically in R or S form depending on the growth medium, partitioned as the R mutants and S bacteria, respectively. These results demonstrate the great influence of long polysaccharide chains on the physicochemical properties of the cell surface.