Abstract
The immunodominant part in the O-antigenic polysaccharide from Escherichia coli O128 was immunologically characterized by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The antibody specificity was determined by the inhibitory effects of the methyl glycosides of constituent mono- and oligosaccharides synthesized related to the O-antigenic polysaccharide from E. coli O128. It was found that methyl α-L-fucopyranoside was the most effective inhibitor amongst the monosaccharides while the highest antibody specificity was directed towards the trisaccharide with the structure: β-D-GalpNAc-(1→6)-[α-L-Fucp-(1→2)]-β-D-Galp-1→OMe suggesting that the monospecific antibody has the extended combining site.