Autolysis of Bacillus cereus N.R.R.L. 569 cell walls was accompanied by hydrolysis of the majority of the 4-O-beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl-N-acetylmuramic acid linkages in mucopeptide, presumably by an endo-beta-N-acetylglucosaminidase. Hydrolysis of the N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine linkages by an amidase also occurred. Free d-alanine residues were detected in isolated cell walls and the proportion o...

Acetobacter strains able to produce a thick pellicle at 37 degrees C were screened among many thermotolerant strains isolated from fruits in Thailand. As a result, Acetobacter sp. SKU 1100 was selected as the producer of a relatively thick pellicle even when cultured at higher temperatures such as 37 degrees C or 40 degrees C. This strain could produce a pellicle polysaccharide in a shaking sub...

The polysaccharide fraction from Solanum nigrum Linne has been shown to have antitumor activity by enhancing the CD4+/CD8+ ratio of the T-lymphocyte subpopulation. In this study, we analyzed a polysaccharide extract of S. nigrum to determine its modulating effects on RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells since macrophages play a key role in inducing both innate and adaptive immune responses. Crude ...

This report presents a single-laboratory-validated NMR method for determining the quantity of aloe vera polysaccharide in product formulations. The ratio of signal intensities of the acetyl methyl protons to methyl protons of an internal reference varied linearly with concentration (r2 > 0.99) with a lower LOQ of 0.2 g/100 mL for two commercial aloe polysaccharide standards, Acemannan Hydrogel ...

A water-soluble polysaccharide from Sarcodia ceylonensis was obtained by using the method of water-extraction and ethanol-precipitation. The polysaccharide was further purified by chromatography on AB-8 and ADS-7 columns, yielding a pure polysaccharide termed SCP-60. The molecular weight (Mw) of SCP-60 was calculated to be 50.0 kDa, based on the calibration curve obtained with a series of Dextr...

Mutants of several pneumococcal types have been described which form smaller amounts of capsular polysaccharides than the parent or normally encapsulated strain from which they derived. S transforming principles from these mutants confer on certain R strains of pneumococcus the capacity to produce amounts of polysaccharide characteristic of the S mutants. I t has been suggested that the transfo...

A method is presented for covalently bonding Haemophilus influenzae type b capsular polysaccharide (HIB Ps) to several proteins. The method is efficient and relies upon the use of adipic dihydrazide as a spacer between the capsular polysaccharide and the carrier protein. In contrast to the poor immunogenicity of the purified HIB Ps in mice and rabbits, the HIB Ps-protein conjugates induced seru...

Agaricus bisporus is one of the most consumed culinary mushrooms in the world. The white type of Agaricus bisporus has been demonstrated with various bioactivities beneficial to human health. However, little was known about its brown type. In this study, the anti-cancer and immunoregulatory potential of Agaricus bisporus (brown) polysaccharide were investigated in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, t...

The Açaí (Acai) fruit is a popular nutritional supplement that purportedly enhances immune system function. These anecdotal claims are supported by limited studies describing immune responses to the Acai polyphenol fraction. Previously, we characterized γδ T cell responses to both polyphenol and polysaccharide fractions from several plant-derived nutritional supplements. Similar polyphenol and ...

The lengths of bacterial polysaccharides can be critical for their biological function. Unlike DNA or protein synthesis, where polymer length is implicit in the nucleic acid template, the molecular mechanisms for regulating polysaccharide length are poorly understood. Two models are commonly cited: a "molecular clock" regulates length by controlling the duration of the polymer extension process...