The same set of genes that encode enzymes for synthesis of lipid A (endotoxin), the two Kdo units and the heptose units of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are present in the genomes of L. hongkongensis, C. violaceum, N. meningitidis, N. gonorrhoeae and E. coli. Moreover, 9 genes [rfbA (LHK_02995), rfbB (LHK_02997), rfbC (LHK_02994), rfbD (LHK_02996), wbmF (LHK_02799), wbmG (LHK_02800), wbmH (LHK_02801), wbmI (LHK_02790) and wbmK (LHK_02792)] that encode putative enzymes for biosyn-thesis of the polysaccharide side chains are present in the L. hongkongensis genome. In addition to genes for synthesizing LPS, a number of CDSs that encode putative cytotoxins are present, including cytotoxins that act on the cell surface [hemolysins (LHK_00956 and LHK_03166) and RTX toxins (LHK_02735 and LHK_02918)] and those that act intracellularly [patatin-like proteins (LHK_00116, LHK_01938, and LHK_03113)] [32, 33] . Furthermore, a number of CDSs that encode putative outer membrane phospholipase A1 (LHK_00790) and collagenases (LHK_00305-00306, LHK_00451, and LHK_02651) for possible bacterial invasion are present.