O-antigen of lipopolysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae O1 or O139

The O-antigen of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139 is a major surface carbohydrate structure that forms the outermost part of the LPS molecule on these bacteria[1][7]. It is essential for defining the serogroup (O1 or O139), acts as a principal determinant for immune system recognition, and serves as a key virulence factor. The O-antigen consists of repeating sugar units known as O-specific polysaccharide (OSP), with the O1 serogroup O-antigen composed of repeating units of perosamine, whereas the O139 O-antigen contains a unique non-repeating hexasaccharide distinct from O1[5]. This structural difference explains why immune responses or vaccines against one serogroup do not confer protection against the other[5][9]. The O-antigen participates in bacterial evasion of host immune defenses, modulates resistance to antimicrobial peptides, serves as a receptor for bacteriophages, and is a central target for vaccine development and immune-based diagnosis[1][7][9]. Vaccines targeting the O-antigen induce protective antibodies and reduce host colonization by V. cholerae. Changes or mutations affecting O-antigen biosynthesis can attenuate virulence and compromise bacterial survival[1][10].

Other names

O-antigen of V. cholerae O1O-antigen of V. cholerae O139O-specific polysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae O1O-specific polysaccharide of Vibrio cholerae O139OSP of Vibrio cholerae O1OSP of Vibrio cholerae O139

Induction of O-antigen-specific antibodies (opsonization or inhibition of colonization); Target for vaccine-induced immune response (prevention of V. cholerae infection); Blocking O-antigen to neutralize pathogen or interfere with virulence