The human gut Bacteroides eggerthii expresses a new galactofuranose-containing lipooligosaccharide with weak immunostimulatory properties

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) decorating the cell surface of Gram-negative bacteria exhibit nuanced functionalities linked to their precise structural composition. However, despite their critical role in health and disease, information on the structure and function of LPS from members of the human gut microbiota is still limited. Here, we deciphered the complete structure of the LPS isolated from the human gut bacterium Bacteroides eggerthii 1_2_48FAA. We showed that B. eggerthii 1_2_48FAA produces an R-type LPS (or lipooligosaccharide, LOS) composed of a heterogeneous mixture of tetra- and penta-acylated lipid A species with different degree of phosphorylation, and a compact galactofuranose-containing core oligosaccharide. Using in vitro human cell lines, we showed that B. eggerthii 1_2_48FAA LOS acts as a weak activator of TLR4-mediated signaling. Moreover, we observed that expression of maturation markers CD40, CD80 and CD86 on monocytes-derived dendritic cells upon B. eggerthii 1_2_48FAA LOS exposure was significantly lower compared to pro-inflammatory Escherichia coli LPS. Taken together, these data provide new structural and biological insights into LPS from gut bacteria, underscoring the importance of structural features in modulating host immunity.