Escherichia coli O16 antigen (O16 antigen)

The Escherichia coli O16 antigen is a specific O-polysaccharide component of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) found on the outer membrane of certain E. coli strains (Source: PubMed, PMID: 31515475). It is a key determinant of the bacterium's serotype and plays a critical role in protecting the pathogen from host immune responses, such as complement-mediated killing (Source: Nature Communications, 2020). O16 is frequently associated with Extra-intestinal Pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), which cause significant morbidity through urinary tract infections and invasive diseases like sepsis (Source: CDC). As a surface-exposed molecule, it serves as a primary target for the development of glycoconjugate vaccines and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies aimed at preventing or treating ExPEC infections (Source: Janssen Pharmaceuticals). Targeting this antigen induces protective immunity by promoting opsonophagocytic killing of the bacteria by host immune cells. Clinical development of vaccines including this antigen, such as the 9-valent ExPEC vaccine (ExPEC9V), highlights its importance in addressing antimicrobial resistance and severe E. coli infections (Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04899336).

Other names

E. coli O16 lipopolysaccharideO16 O-antigenEscherichia coli serogroup O16O16 LPS

Induction of opsonophagocytic and bactericidal antibodies that target the O16-specific polysaccharide, facilitating immune-mediated clearance of the bacteria (Source: PubMed, PMID: 31515475).