Decoding a Gut Commensal Signal: Structural and Immunological Profiling of <i>Segatella Copri</i> Lipopolysaccharide

L Luca De Simone Carone (Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II via Cinthia, 4 Naples 80126 Italy) G Giusi Barra (Bio‐Organic Chemistry Unit Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry CNR Via Campi Flegrei 34 Naples 80078 Italy) R Roberta Cirella (Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II via Cinthia, 4 Naples 80126 Italy) M Marcello Ziaco M Marcello Mercogliano (Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA)) F Francesca Olmeo (Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II Via Cintia 4 Napoli 80126 Italy) E Emanuela Andretta (Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II Via Cintia 4 Napoli 80126 Italy) V Valentina Mazziotti (Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II via Cinthia, 4 Naples 80126 Italy) C Carmela Fusco (Bio‐Organic Chemistry Unit Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry CNR Via Campi Flegrei 34 Naples 80078 Italy) G Giuliana D'Ippolito (Bio‐Organic Chemistry Unit Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry CNR Via Campi Flegrei 34 Naples 80078 Italy) K Katarzyna Anna Duda (Research Center Borstel Leibniz Lung Center 23845 Borstel Germany) F Freda M. Farquharson (The Rowett Institute University of Aberdeen Foresterhill Aberdeen AB25 2ZD UK) P Petra Louis (The Rowett Institute University of Aberdeen Foresterhill Aberdeen AB25 2ZD UK) A Angelo Fontana A Alba Silipo (Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II) A Antonio Molinaro (Wallenberg Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital) F Fabrizio Chiodo F Flaviana Di Lorenzo (Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II Via Cintia 4 Napoli 80126 Italy)

Abstract

Abstract The immunological effects of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) from gut microbiota remain poorly explored, overshadowed by the longstanding view of LPS as a prototypical pro‐inflammatory molecule. Herein, we report the first comprehensive chemical and immunological characterization of LPS from Segatella copri DSM 18205, a prominent member of the human oral and intestinal microbiota. This LPS features a unique chemical architecture, including a mannose‐ and glucose‐rich oligosaccharide (OS) and a highly heterogeneous, hypo‐acylated lipid A domain, as elucidated by advanced mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Functionally, S. copri LPS displayed attenuated TLR4 activation and weak pro‐inflammatory activity. Strikingly, high‐dimensional cytometry by time‐of‐flight (CyTOF) revealed a selective preservation of CD14 + CD16 + monocytes, immune subsets typically depleted by canonical enterobacterial LPSs. These findings identify S. copri LPS as a chemically and functionally distinct microbial signature, offering new insights into host‐microbiota immune crosstalk and highlighting its potential for microbiome‐informed immunomodulatory strategies.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 64, Issue 48
Published November 24, 2025
ISSN 1433-7851
Publisher Wiley

Journal Info

Angewandte Chemie International Edition

Wiley

ISSN: 1433-7851 Physical Sciences

Authors (18)

L

Luca De Simone Carone

Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II via Cinthia, 4 Naples 80126 Italy

G

Giusi Barra

Bio‐Organic Chemistry Unit Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry CNR Via Campi Flegrei 34 Naples 80078 Italy

R

Roberta Cirella

Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II via Cinthia, 4 Naples 80126 Italy

M

Marcello Ziaco

M

Marcello Mercogliano

Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA)

F

Francesca Olmeo

Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II Via Cintia 4 Napoli 80126 Italy

E

Emanuela Andretta

Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II Via Cintia 4 Napoli 80126 Italy

V

Valentina Mazziotti

Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II via Cinthia, 4 Naples 80126 Italy

C

Carmela Fusco

Bio‐Organic Chemistry Unit Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry CNR Via Campi Flegrei 34 Naples 80078 Italy

G

Giuliana D'Ippolito

Bio‐Organic Chemistry Unit Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry CNR Via Campi Flegrei 34 Naples 80078 Italy

K

Katarzyna Anna Duda

Research Center Borstel Leibniz Lung Center 23845 Borstel Germany

F

Freda M. Farquharson

The Rowett Institute University of Aberdeen Foresterhill Aberdeen AB25 2ZD UK

P

Petra Louis

The Rowett Institute University of Aberdeen Foresterhill Aberdeen AB25 2ZD UK

A

Angelo Fontana

A

Alba Silipo

Dipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II

A

Antonio Molinaro

Wallenberg Laboratory, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital

F

Fabrizio Chiodo

F

Flaviana Di Lorenzo

Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II Via Cintia 4 Napoli 80126 Italy