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Index >> Infection and Disease >> Lipopolysaccharide Toxins Endotoxins

Lipopolysaccharide Toxins Endotoxins

Lipopolysaccharide Toxins Endotoxins

The name given to these toxins is equated with the LPS component of the Gram negative eubacterial cell wall. Although all Gram negative eubacteria have LPS in their cell walls, LPS is not toxic unless it is released from the outer layer of the cell.

When these bacteria die, their cell walls disintegrate and release the toxin. Some Gram-negative bacteria produce LPS while growing and their LPS may have toxic effect on host. Toxicity is associated with the lipid portion of the LPS molecule, termed lipid A (composed of fatty acids, such as B-hydroxy myristic). This same structure is found in all eubacterial Gram  negative LPS.

The physiological effects of LPS toxins include fever, circulatory changes, and other general symptoms like weakness and non localised aches. The effects of LPS toxins are generally the same for all species of Gram negative bacteria beacause of the common nature of lipid A.

Thus there is no specific characteristic symptoms associated with the endotoxin of a particular species of bacterium. Species of Salmonella and Shigella, besides LPS toxins, also produce protein toxins(exotoxins) and these are exotoxins that are largely responsible for their Pathogenicity. Shigella produces protein toxins that act on nerve cells,(neurotoxins)

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