In Gram-negative bacteria, the cell envelope largely consists of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a class of heterogeneous glycolipids. As a fundamental component of the outer membrane, LPS provides stability to the bacterial cell and forms a protective cover shielding it from hostile environments. LPS is not only fundamental to bacterial viability, but also makes a substantial contribution both directly and indirectly to multiple aspects of inter-organismic interactions. During infection of animal and plant hosts, LPS promotes bacterial virulence but simultaneously betrays bacteria to the host immune system. Moreover, dynamic remodulation of LPS structures allows bacteria to fine-tune OM properties and quickly adapt to diverse and often hostile environments, such as those encountered in host tissues. Here, we summarize recent insights into the multiple functions of LPS in plant-bacteria interactions and discuss what we can learn from the latest advances in the field of animal immunity. We further pinpoint open questions and future challenges to unravel the different roles of LPS in the dynamic interplay between bacteria and plant hosts at the mechanistic level.

在革兰氏阴性细菌中，细胞包膜主要由脂多糖（LPS）组成，脂多糖是一类异质糖脂。LPS作为外膜的基本组成部分，可为细菌细胞提供稳定性，并形成保护层，使其免受恶劣环境的影响。LPS不仅是细菌生存能力的基础，而且对生物间相互作用的多个方面都具有直接或间接的重大贡献。在动植物宿主感染期间，LPS会增强细菌的毒力，但同时会将细菌出卖给宿主免疫系统。此外，LPS结构的动态重新调节使细菌可以微调OM特性，并迅速适应多种多样且通常为敌对的环境，例如在宿主组织中遇到的环境。这里，我们总结了LPS在植物与细菌相互作用中的多种功能的最新见解，并讨论了我们可以从动物免疫领域的最新进展中学到什么。我们进一步指出悬而未决的问题和未来的挑战，以阐明LPS在细菌和植物宿主之间在机械水平上的动态相互作用中的不同作用。