Vibrio cholerae O139 lipopolysaccharide (O139 LPS)

Vibrio cholerae O139 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major surface component and a defining virulence factor of the O139 serogroup of the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which emerged in 1992 as a cause of epidemic cholera (Knirel et al., 1997, Eur. J. Biochem.). This molecule is essential for the structural integrity of the bacterial outer membrane and plays a significant role in the pathogen's ability to colonize the human small intestine (Waldor et al., 1994, J. Infect. Dis.). The O139 LPS is unique because it contains a specific O-antigen that is structurally distinct from the O1 serogroup and is closely associated with the bacterium's capsule (Comstock et al., 1996, J. Bacteriol.). In clinical medicine, this LPS is a primary target for bivalent oral cholera vaccines, such as Shanchol and Euvichol, which aim to elicit protective vibriocidal antibodies that neutralize the pathogen (WHO, 2017, Wkly. Epidemiol. Rec.). Additionally, the lipid A component of the LPS acts as an endotoxin, capable of stimulating the host's innate immune system through the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) complex, which can lead to inflammatory responses during infection (Park et al., 2009, Nature). Understanding the structure and immunogenicity of O139 LPS is crucial for developing effective diagnostic tools and broad-spectrum cholera preventatives.

Other names

V. cholerae O139 LPSO139 antigenLipopolysaccharide O139Vibrio cholerae O139 endotoxin

Vaccine-mediated induction of O139-specific vibriocidal antibodies that promote bacterial lysis and prevent intestinal colonization (WHO, 2017). Polymyxin B acts by binding to the lipid A component of the LPS, neutralizing its endotoxic activity and preventing TLR4 activation (Morrison & Jacobs, 1976).