The Soluble Specific Substance of Pneumococcus: IV. On the Nature of the Specific Polysaccharide of Type III Pneumococcus Streptococcus pneumoniae Pneumococcal Infections Polysaccharides Throughout the 1920s the scientific community remained skeptical of Avery and Heidelberger's work on the unique antigenic polysaccharides in type II and type III pneumococcus. Echoing prevailing beliefs among scientists that only proteins could act as antigens, critics contended that Heidelberger and Avery's polysaccharide solutions had been contaminated by proteins, and that these, not the polysaccharides, were causing the antigenic reactions. As a result, the two approached Walther Goebel, an organic chemist, in order to more specifically determine the nature of these polysaccharides and their antigenic properties. This article details their findings as to the structure and composition of the polysaccharide capsule of type III pneumococcus. American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2 November 1926 The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2 November 1926 Journal of Biological Chemistry Heidelberger, Michael Goebel, Walther F. Articles Archival Materials Text 12 pages nlm:nlmuid-101584940X6-doc 101584940X6 http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101584940X6 Profiles ID: DHBBBH English Profiles in Science