Abstract 2137 Critical role of Vibrio parahaemolyticus LpxM in intracellular replication and evasion of host immune response during infection

V. para infections are usually self-limiting. However, in immunocompromised patients, infections can lead to sepsis. As a key component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, LPS protects bacterial cells from toxic molecules and is essential for bacterial survival under stressful conditions. We show that extracellular V. para synthesizes lipid A component of LPS that protects the bacteria from recognition by the host. Alteration in the lipid A acylation by deletion of the acyltransferase affects the pathogenicity of V.