Vibrio cholerae O139 surface antigen (O139 antigen)

Vibrio cholerae O139 surface antigen refers to the specific lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and capsular polysaccharide (CPS) structures found on the surface of the O139 serogroup of Vibrio cholerae. First identified in 1992 during an epidemic in India and Bangladesh, the O139 serogroup is unique among cholera-causing strains for its ability to produce a capsule, which aids in immune evasion and environmental persistence [PMID: 11815610]. This antigen is a primary target for the development of oral cholera vaccines (OCVs), such as Shanchol and Euvichol, which include inactivated O139 cells to induce protective vibriocidal antibodies in the host [PMID: 26142052]. These antibodies prevent the bacteria from colonizing the small intestine, thereby blocking the production of cholera toxin and the subsequent development of severe secretory diarrhea [PMID: 15297641]. In clinical settings, the detection of the O139 antigen in stool samples using rapid diagnostic tests is essential for distinguishing it from the O1 serogroup and managing outbreaks effectively [PMID: 23638102].

Other names

O139 lipopolysaccharideO139 capsular polysaccharideVibrio cholerae serogroup O139 antigenBengal strain antigen

Induction of serogroup-specific vibriocidal antibodies that mediate bacterial lysis and prevent intestinal colonization [PMID: 26142052].