Studies on the glutamylpeptide antigen (GPP) in the genusBacillus

The frequency of occurrence of the glutamylpeptide (GPP) antigen in genusBacillus is described. The presence of this antigen was detected in 77.8% of strains using immunochemical assay, and in 100% when the immunofluorescent method was used. GPP appears to be a component of the cell wall and its presence is not bound to a morphologically demonstrable capsule. In addition, it was shown that in some strains possessing the myxomatose type of growth, the capsular GPP may separatein toto from the body of the cell.