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Abstract
SUMMARY: Electron microscopy was used to study streptococci carrying the carbohydrate antigens z3 as a group antigen and III as a type antigen (strain z3III) and a mutant carrying only the group antigen (strain z3). The cell-envelope of z3III bacteria seems to consist of: (i) a thin layer, representing the membrane; and (ii) a thicker layer probably identical with the mucopeptide and the polysaccharide antigens. Staining of bacteria with ferritin-labelled antisera showed that: (i) type antigens located on the outermost layer of the streptococcal cell-envelope seem to be capsule-like materials; (ii) group antigens are located more to the inside of the streptococcal envelope.
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© Society for General Microbiology 1973