Vibrio cholerae O139 lipopolysaccharide antigen (O139 LPS)

Vibrio cholerae O139 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a major surface antigen and a critical virulence factor of the O139 serogroup, which is one of the two primary causes of epidemic cholera. The O139 serogroup emerged in the early 1990s, distinguished from the O1 serogroup by its unique LPS structure and the presence of a capsule that shares the same O-antigen repeating unit. This antigen plays a vital role in bacterial survival by contributing to serum resistance, biofilm formation, and protection against host immune defenses. It is a primary target for the development of cholera vaccines, as the induction of O139-specific vibriocidal antibodies is essential for serogroup-specific protection. Current bivalent oral cholera vaccines, such as Shanchol and Euvichol, include inactivated O139 whole cells to target this antigen. Additionally, experimental conjugate vaccines are being developed to enhance the immunogenicity of the O139 O-antigen, particularly in children. Understanding the structure and function of O139 LPS is crucial for both diagnostic purposes and the ongoing global effort to control cholera outbreaks.

Other names

O139 antigenO139 O-antigenBengal antigenO139 O-specific polysaccharideO139 OSP

Induction of bactericidal (vibriocidal) antibodies, pathogen neutralization, and opsonization to prevent intestinal colonization and infection.