Pseudomonas aeruginosa O2-specific polysaccharide (O2-OPS)

The O2-specific polysaccharide is a critical component of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) found on the outer membrane of Pseudomonas aeruginosa serogroup O2. It consists of repeating oligosaccharide units that define the immunological specificity of the bacterial strain and play a vital role in protecting the bacterium from host immune defenses, such as complement-mediated killing. As a surface-exposed molecule, it serves as a primary target for the development of vaccines and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies, such as Aerucin (AR-101). Targeting this polysaccharide aims to enhance opsonophagocytic killing by neutrophils and provide passive or active immunity against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas infections. Because Pseudomonas aeruginosa exhibits significant serotype diversity, O2-specific therapies are typically part of a precision medicine approach or a multivalent strategy to cover prevalent clinical isolates.

Other names

O2 antigenO-specific polysaccharide of Pseudomonas aeruginosa serogroup O2O-antigen O2LPS O-side chain O2

Monoclonal antibodies or vaccine-induced antibodies bind to the O-specific polysaccharide, promoting opsonophagocytosis and neutralizing the pathogen's ability to evade the host immune system.