Lipid a remodeling modulates outer membrane vesicle biogenesis by .

Outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) are small membrane enclosed sacs released from bacteria which serve as carriers of biomolecules that shape interactions with the surrounding environment. The periodontal pathogen, , is a prolific OMV producer. Here, we investigated how the structure of lipid A, a core outer membrane molecule, influences OMV production, OMV-dependent TLR4 activation, and biofilm formation.

The lipid A phosphate position determines differential host Toll-like receptor 4 responses to phylogenetically related symbiotic and pathogenic bacteria.

The human symbiont Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron promotes intestinal function and health, whereas the phylogenetically related pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is associated with the chronic oral inflammatory disease periodontitis. Although both B. thetaiotaomicron and P.