Specific lipopolysaccharide found in cystic fibrosis airway Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients develop chronic airway infections with Pseudo monas aeruginosa (PA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa synthesized lipopolysaccharid e (LPS) with a variety of penta- and hexa-acylated lipid A structures under different environmental conditions. CF patient PA synthesized LPS with spe cific Lipid A structures indicating unique recognition of the CF airway env ironment. CF-specific Lipid A forms containing palmitate and aminoarabinose were associated with resistance to cationic antimicrobial peptides and inc reased inflammatory responses, indicating that they are likely to be involv ed in airway disease.