A Reinvestigation of the Anomeric Configuration of Mannose in the Antigens of Salmonella Groups B, D and E

The anomeric configuration of mannose is α in the O antigens of Salmonella groups B and D, and β in group E, i.e. directly opposite to what was anticipated earlier from data obtained with mannosidase from rat epididymis. The present results were obtained with the aid of α‐mannosidase from jack bean meal and of purified α‐ and β‐mannosidase from a marine gastropod, which were allowed to act upon the disaccharides mannosyl‐rhamnose isolated from partial hydrolysates of the respective antigens. The new findings, however, do not alter the validity of previous conclusions.