Structure of the O‐polysaccharide and classification of Proteus mirabilis strain G1 in Proteus serogroup O3

The O‐chain polysaccharide of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of a previously nonclassified strain of Proteus mirabilis termed G1 was studied by sugar analysis and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, rotating‐frame NOE (ROESY), H‐detected 1H,13C HMQC, and heteronuclear multiple‐bond correlation (HMBC) experiments. The following structure of the polysaccharide was established: where d‐GalA6(l‐Lys) stands for Nα‐(d‐galacturonoyl)‐ l‐lysine. The structure of the O‐polysaccharide of P. mirabilis G1 is similar, but not identical, to that of P. mirabilis S1959 and OXK belonging to serogroup O3. Immunochemical studies with P. mirabilis G1 and S1959 anti‐(O‐polysaccharide) sera revealed close LPS‐based serological relatedness of P. mirabilis G1 and S1959, and therefore it was suggested to classify P. mirabilis G1 in serogroup O3 as a subgroup. P. mirabilis G1 and S1959 anti‐(O‐polysaccharide) sera also cross‐reacted with LPS of␣P. mirabilis strains from two other serogroups containing␣d‐GalA6(l‐Lys) in the O‐polysaccharide or in the core region.