Strains and Variants of Leuconostoc mesenteroides

Schluchterer and Stacey later obtained a small amount (0.23%) of methyl 2,3,4,6-tetramethyl-D-glucoside from the hydrolytic products of a methylated L. dextranicum dextran, in addition to 90% methyl 

4-trimethyl-D-glucosides, and on the basis of these results, postulated a minimum chain length of 550 units for this dextran. An appreciable amount of methyl dimethyl-D-glucosides was obtained, but these may not indicate side chain linkages since a mixture of dimethyl isomers was present, and the dextran was not fully methylated (only 44,5% methoxyl rather than 45.6%). 

Zozaya reported that nitrogen-free L. mesenteroides dextran was not antigenic, but could be rendered antigenic by adsorption upon a 

Fitzgerald found that the antibody response of rabbits toward 1.5% aqueous dextran solutions (both types) varied with the nitrogen (f. e., bacterial) content of the dextran. Injections were administered both interperitoneally and intravenously, and no antibody production resulted when the nitrogen content of the dextrans was below 0.2%. 

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