Bacteria lipopolysaccharides

Lipid A is the endotoxic principle of Gram-negative bacteria lipopolysaccharide. Its structure varies between bacteria. Sepsis could equally also be classed as immunomodulatory. 

There are several locations for bacterial polysaccharides [82, 83, 256]. The exo-cellular may occur as a capsule or form an extra-cellular slime and are produced by both Gram positive and negative bacteria. Lipopolysaccharides are embedded in the membrane of Gram negative bacteria. Most of the bacterial polysaccharides consist of repeating hetero-oligosaccharyi units which may be branched lipopolysaccharides... 

Some polymyxins are sold for second-line systemic therapy. Polymyxin B sulfate and colistimethate sodium can be used for intravenous, intramuscular, or intrathecal administration, especially for Pseudomonas aerupinosa mP QXiosis, but also for most other gram-negative organisms, such as those resistant to first-line antibiotics. Nephrotoxicity and various neurotoxicities are common in parenteral, but not in topical, use. Resistance to polymyxins develops slowly, involves mutation and, at least in some bacteria, adaptation, a poorly understood type of resistance that is rapidly lost on transfer to a medium free of polymyxin. Resistance can involve changes in the proteins, the lipopolysaccharides, and lipids of the outer membrane of the cell (52). Polymyxin and colistin show complete cross-resistance. 

Cell wall Peptidoglycan a rigid framework of polysaccharide cross-linked by short peptide chains. Some bacteria possess a lipopolysaccharide- and protein-rich outer membrane. Mechanical support, shape, and protection against swelling in hypotonic media. The cell wall is a porous nonselective barrier that allows most small molecules to pass. 

As shown in Figure 9.24, the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria is coated with a highly complex lipopolysaccharide, which consists of a lipid group (anchored in the outer membrane) joined to a polysaccharide made up of long chains with many different and characteristic repeating structures... 

FIGURE 9,24 Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) coats the outer membrane of Gram-uegative > bacteria. The lipid portion of the LPS is embedded iu the outer membrane and is linked to a complex polysaccharide. 

Endotoxins are the lipopolysaccharides (LPS) of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. They trigger inflammatory reactions in the infected organism, activate complement and cause fever or even a septic shock. They act on toll-like receptors. 

A lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is any compound consisting of covalently linked lipids and polysaccharides. The term is used more frequently to denote a cell wall component from Gram-negative bacteria. LPS has endotoxin activities and is a polyclonal stimulator of B-lymphocytes. 

Shortly afterwards, Westphal, Liideritz, and their coworkers using the newly developed method of paper chromatography, found a new class of sugars in lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria, and identified them as 3,6-dideoxyhexoses. This work is summarized in Ref. 4. These discoveries initiated more-systematic investigations of hydrolyzates from bacterial polysaccharides, and a number of new monosaccharides were completely or partially identified. This development has been summarized by Ashwell and Hickman. ... 

Fig. 9.1 Schematic representation of possible mechanisms of resistance in Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. 1, antibiotic-inactivating enzymes 2, antibiotic efflux proteins 3, alteration or duplication of intracellular targets 4, alteration of the cell membrane reducing antibiotic uptake 5, alterations in porins or lipopolysaccharide reducing antibiotic uptake or binding.

Fever is the most common manifestation. The thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus regulates body temperature and this can be affected by endotoxins (heat-stable lipopolysaccharides) of Gram-negative bacteria and also by a monokine secreted by monocytes and macrophages called interleukin-1 (IL-1) which is also termed endogenous pyrogen. Antibody production and T-cell proliferation have been shown to be enhanced at elevated body temperatures and thus are beneficial effects of fever. 

The surface structure of gram-negative bacteria (these are not stained by Gram s method and must be stained red with carbol fuchsin) is more diversified. It consists of an outer membrane whose main building unit is a lipopolysaccharide together with phospholipids and proteins. The actual cell... 

Taylor, M.J., Cross, H.F. and Bilo, K. (2000) Inflammatory responses induced by the filarial nematode Brugia malayi are mediated by lipopolysaccharide-like activity from endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria. Journal of Experimental Medicine 191, 1429-1436. 

In Gram-negative bacteria the cell wall is only about 3 nm thick, and located in the extended periplasmatic space between the inner membrane (IM) and an additional outer membrane (OM). The lipid monolayer in the outer leaflet of the OM contains about 90% lipopolysaccharides (LPS). LPS consist of Lipid A and an oligosaccharide component, which is highly specific for individual bacterial species and phenotypes [108, 114]. 

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